TUESDAY, FIRST WEEK OF LENT
Is 55: 10-11 Ps 34: 4-7, 16-19 Mt 6: 7-15
UNDERSTANDING THE AGE-OLD PROPHECY!
A few decades ago, Language came under the radar of the linguistic philosophers who dissected it as an object! However, a few thousand years back, a prophet too considered analysing language – not human language, however, but God’s language, i.e. His words themselves. In today’s first reading, we have Prophet Isaiah describing the effectiveness of the divine word. He assures us that the word that comes from the mouth of God accomplishes without fail the purpose for which it was sent.
But what is this word of God? A little analysis could help us understand what Isaiah is conveying. The reading is taken from the chapter 55 of Isaiah, thus falling into the second section of the Book of Isaiah called Deutero-Isaiah. In this part, the prophet prepares the exiled Jews for their return to Jerusalem. Relaying God’s promises and asking them to trust in Him by being hopeful, he seeks a response of joy from them. Therefore, this part of the book has four songs called the ‘Servant Songs.’ They are found in chapters 42, 49, 50, and 52-53. These songs speak of the Servant, who is God’s agent, appointed to do His work in the world. Following these are chapters 54 and 55, which describe the work of this Servant of God. The Servant is another title for the Messiah whom the same prophet prophesies about. The Messiah is Jesus Himself.
Thus, the word of God that accomplishes its purpose is the Divine Word, i.e., the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John clearly affirms this: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). This Divine Word, as Prophet Isaiah proclaims, accomplished the purpose for which He was sent. The purpose was our salvation, after which He returned to the Father. During this season of Lent, as we are preparing ourselves to celebrate our salvation, let this reading fill us with awe and gratitude for God’s eternal plan of salvation!
Response: The Lord rescues them in all their distress.
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