THE SERVANT SONGS OF ISAIAH
There
are four Servant Songs in the writings of the Prophet Isaiah that the
Church applies to Christ. We will read them in the Liturgy today, and on
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Each of them describes the suffering of a
great servant of Israel and his humility in suffering. It is good to
reflect on them this coming Holy Week as it can help us understand more
deeply the suffering of Christ.
Today,
the focus is on the gift of the Spirit given to the Suffering Servant.
It is the Holy Spirit who provides grace and strength to the disciples
of Jesus. Any
servant of God needs a great devotion and trust in the Holy Spirit if
he is going to achieve anything for the Kingdom. It is the Holy Spirit
whom Christ has given us, who empowers us in the work of the Gospel. The
text we read tells us also that the Spirit leads the Servant of God to
be faithful to His covenant. The whole idea of covenant is essential to
understanding the nature of the relationship between God and His people.
It is a relationship of choice — and you can choose to ignore God if
you so desire. However, if you prefer the latter
choice, then the Old Testament is essential reading for you,
particularly the parts that deal with the suffering of the People of God
in exile, which results to banishment from their homeland due to their
lack of trust in God.
We
are also told that the Servant of God is one whom God uses to open the
eyes of those who have become blind to God so that they might return to
Him in repentance. This is key in today’s age of godlessness due to
materialism and hedonism. The sense of God is being eclipsed by the more
immediate pleasures and enjoyments of life, to the point that God is
not just marginalized but largely forgotten in the midst of the pursuits
of pleasure. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
REFLECTION
QUESTIONS: What is you immediate reaction to the fact that you are
called to be a servant of God? Does this inspire or repulse you?
Jesus,
help me realize more deeply Your love for me and Your call in my life.
Help me to surrender more fully to the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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