“Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated…” (Isaiah 40:1-2)
The Prophet Isaiah is speaking to the Jewish people exiled to Babylon. His message is one of profound hope and consolation, reminding them – and us – of God’s infinite mercy. After a period of suffering and exile, God assures His people that their trials are not without purpose. He is both just and compassionate, bringing an end to their hardship and preparing a way for restoration.
The imagery of preparing a straight highway for the Lord (vv. 3-5) echoes the reading from the recent gospel from the 2nd Sunday of Advent. John the Baptist is the voice crying out from the wilderness by calling for repentance in preparation for Christ. His call, like Isaiah’s, has purpose. As believers, we are invited to reflect on our own lives. While we may not be in Exile, we are people with valleys of doubt or mountains of pride that block our openness to God. Advent, in particular, calls us to clear these obstacles and embrace God’s transformative presence.
As verses 6-8 remind us, in our human condition we are frail: “The grass withers, the flower wilts, but the word of our God stands forever.” Our fleeting existence contrasts with the eternal and unchanging nature of God’s promises. The promise is forever, across all time and ages. The promise is also an invitation to place our trust in His Word, which endures – not in worldly things like our own efforts that are destined to wither.
What is the promise? What awaits us? “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.” (Isa 40:11) Isaiah holds up for us a pastoral image of the God of that promise who is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love and fidelity.” (Ex 34:6) Such is our God who is both almighty and intimately close.
As we journey through Advent and life, may we receive his mercy and become the ones who offer His consolation to others, proclaiming with joy, “Here is your God!” (v. 9).
Image credit: Prophet Isaiah, Mosaic, Right of Lunette, South Wall of Presbytery, Basilica of San Vitale | PD-US | Pexels