In difficult times just before the Exile, Isaiah writes about conversion and of new times of consolation. His vision and message are based in profound hope. He is the prophet par excellence for this time of Advent – hope and confidence. In today’s reading, Isaiah announces a time where death is eliminated, where tears are no more and where God’s disapproval is replaced by restoration. Death, tears, reproach, and sin form the veil that covers all of us and does not let us live as sons and daughters of God in one family. This veil destroys our capacity to live in communion with God and with each other. Isaiah expresses his hope through the image of a great feast. He even repeats his description of the feast: A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. Everything about this new feast is in double proportions, beyond our expectations. This is a new reality that only God can accomplish in us.
In the Gospel we see the fulfilment of that vision in the person of Jesus. He dedicates three days to preaching and curing the sick. Placing life and health where there had only been despair, sickness, and pain. Jesus shows even more compassion for the people because after three days, they are hungry. He asked for what little they had so that he could once again multiply their possibilities beyond all hope.
Advent is a time to renew our hope, to renew our relationship with God. Our joy as Christians is that we are living the new times that Isaiah announced. As Christians, we live each day and each Eucharist as a time of renewal and joy.
On the day of the great feast, the feast of restoration, Isaiah says the people will all call out:
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!
It is so easy to get lost in the tears, disappointments, and reproaches of life that we just get lost. We look for life in Santa Clause, material goods, and momentary pleasures. Advent is a time to ask ourselves if we are rejoicing in the presence of the Lord in our lives and orientating ourselves toward.
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