From the Friars: The Advent Prophet

Around the year 760 B.C. a man was born into the nobility of Jerusalem who would become the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. He was named Isaiah which means “Yahweh (I AM) is my salvation.” The inspired book that he wrote has been called the fifth Gospel. And during Advent the Church proclaims his writings, especially because they clearly foretell the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

As a young man Isaiah had a spectacular, life-changing vision of God in the temple. The Seraphim angels were crying out: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of Hosts…” From here comes the Sanctus of the Holy Mass. And at this moment he responded to God’s call with his famous, “here I am, send me.” (Is 6) For more than 50 years after this Isaiah would be a powerful voice, which resounds to this day. His courageous calls to repentance, social justice, renunciation of idolatry, and trust in God’s power were relentless during dangerous times in Israel’s history.

As is so often the case, the great prophet was ignored and scorned for the most part during his lifetime. Even the pious King Hezekiah did not listen to him and formed an alliance with pagan Egypt rather than trust in God’s promised help against the Assyrians. Once the Lord commanded Isaiah to go around naked and barefoot for three years as a sign against Egypt and Ethiopia. (Is 20) Finally, according to Jewish tradition, he died as a martyr under the wicked King Manasseh, being sawed in two. (cf. Heb 11:37)

During Advent, we particularly focus on the famous Emmanuel prophecies, especially Is 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son…” But Isaiah is also read during Holy Week, chiefly the astonishing song of the Suffering Servant. (Is 52:13-53:12) “And the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (53:6) No where else in the Old Testament are there such clear predictions of the Incarnation and the Redemption that Jesus merited for us on the Cross.

May our Advent meditation on the writings of this greatest of prophets strengthen our faith and trust in the All-Powerful, All-Knowing God and inspire us to heed his call to change our lives.

Amen.
Fr. Peter