Our first reading is taken from the 40th Chapter of the Prophet Isaiah – a chapter we have been reading for more than a week now. Taken a moment to quickly read over Isaiah 40 and you will note how many key verses there are which the Church uses during the Christmas season, especially the Sundays of Advent:
- Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God (Isa 40:1)
- A voice proclaims: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! (Isa 40:3)
- Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together (Isa 40:5)
- Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of good news! Cry out at the top of your voice, here is your God (Isa 40:9)
- Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, leading the ewes with care (Isa 40:11)
These verses are all being spoken to exiled people in Babylon. They are wondering if God has abandoned them, well aware that they abandoned God to follow worldly kings and passing glory. But Isaiah reminds them that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love and fidelity, continuing his love for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin.” (echoing Ex 34:6-7). It is at this point that Isaiah begins a three-part oracle that follows from the declaration “Here is your God” in verse 9.
The first stanza (vv. 12–17) is reminiscent of the later chapters in the Book of Job where Job had “called out” God to answer his questions. God does not answer them but asks Job a series of rhetorical questions. The implied answer is that it is God alone who has created the earth. The nations, even the great Babylon, are as nothing before the Lord, since the whole earth is in God’s grasp.
The second stanza (vv. 18–24) begins with another rhetorical question: To whom can God be likened? The short answer is that the sovereign power of God accounts as nothing all earthly powers and their kings. The people need not doubt the Lord’s ability to overthrow the Babylonians and restore Israel.
This brings us to our first reading, the third stanza (vv. 25–31). The introductory question, “To whom can you liken me as an equal…?” (40:25). Having already answered that for the earthly realm, the people are commanded to look up at the stars, the heavenly realm. The stars were often honored as divine by Babylonians. Isaiah likely shares the common belief that the stars are a heavenly host of supernatural beings but insists that they are subject to God, who keeps them in order. At this point the prophet directly reproaches the Israelites for their despair in feeling abandoned by their God who is the source and fountain fullness of all power in the universe.
Isaiah is saying – and that is the basis on which to trust the Lord – that God is the everlasting Creator, the Power of all life and being, and the sure and certain source of Hope for those who trust in the divine will. Hope did not come easily to the Jews during the Exile.
It does not come easily to us on some days. But may we learn from our ancestors in faith to trust in the Lord who made heaven and earth. His timeline might not be ours, but we are called to place our hope and trust in Him.
Image credit: Prophet Isaiah, Mosaic, Right of Lunette, South Wall of Presbytery, Basilica of San Vitale | PD-US | Pexels