FATHERLY TOUCH - A: 21st Sun in OrdTime

First Reading: Isaiah 22:19-23 (27 Aug 2023)

“I will commit your authority to his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah” (Isa 22:21).

The term “father” in today’s reading is a translation of the Hebrew word ab. In this biblical episode on the selection of Eliakim as master of the palace, ab appears thrice, viz., verses 21b, 23, and 24. Most English versions render ab in verses 23 and 24 as “father” but it occurs in some as “ancestral” (e.g., Complete English Bible, New American Bible Revised Edition, and New Revised Standard Version), “family” (e.g., Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, and Living Bible), and “clan” (e.g., Complete Jewish Bible). Nevertheless, the other wordings in this narrative clearly point to the concept of fatherhood, especially with the mention of “offspring and issue” (NRSV) or “descendants and offspring” (NABRE) in v. 24.

This idea of fatherhood is laid alongside the initial image of a royal official. It is hinted at in the phrases “official” and “master of the palace” in v. 15; “chariots” and “master’s house” in v. 18; “authority” and “house of Judah” in v. 21; “House of David” in v. 22; and “a seat of honor” in v. 23. The context of the mention of these terms is the Lord’s frustration in the poor performance of Shebna, the master of the palace of Jerusalem (v. 15).

Accordingly, Isaiah stated God’s anger against this leader, saying, “The Lord shall hurl you down headlong, mortal man! He shall grip you firmly, and roll you up and toss you like a ball into a broad land. There you will die, there with the chariots you glory in, you disgrace to your master’s house!” (v. 18).

Subsequently, the prophet identified Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, to replace Shebna (cf. v. 20), who would be entrusted with divine authority (v. 21a) symbolized by his reception of “the key of the House of David on his shoulder” (v. 22a). Soon, Shebna would be relegated as a mere scribe (37:2), while Eliakim would ascend to power and “[o]n him shall hang all the glory of his ancestral house” (22:23). Such a prophecy was realized during the reign of Hezekiah in Jerusalem when he served as master of the palace (36:3). Yet, it appears in the end of the episode that even this handpicked leader would disappoint the Lord. Isaiah stated that in him, “the peg fixed in a firm place shall give way, break off and fall, and the weight that hung on it shall be done away with” (v. 25).

The abrupt removal of Shebna and Eliakim, hence, can be summarized as their very failure to stay true to the job description of a master of a palace, which involves possessing a fatherly way of governance by the repetition of the Hebrew word ab in Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 22. This detail indicates that any person endowed with authority should perform his/her duty as a father guides and cares for his children.

Let us pray, then, that the leaders of our land lead with a fatherly touch, listening well and sacrificing for the sake of their so-called societal or spiritual children.

- Rex Fortes, CM