DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Friday,
January 5, 2007; Strict Fast; Eve of Theophany; Syncletica of Alexandria
2nd Blessing of the Waters: Isaiah 55:1-13;
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27; Gospel: St. Luke 3:1-18
Living Water: Isaiah 55:1-13,
especially vs. 1: “Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters....” This passage from the Prophet Isaiah is
all about our Incarnate God and Savior, Jesus Christ - The Ultimate Message to mankind from the
Holy, Life-giving, and Undivided Trinity.
Herein, God Himself implores everyone to come to Him - to “come to the Waters.” In the passage, God speaks in the same
manner in which He later spoke to the woman at the well: “If you knew the gift
of God, and Who it is Who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked
Him, and He would have given you living water” (Jn 4:10). The invitation in Isaiah also parallels
the admonition of St. Ambrose of Milan: “Buy Christ for yourself, then, not
with what few men possess, but with what all men possess by nature, but few
offer on account of fear.”
First, the Lord Jesus is
Bread without price offered freely, the Bread that truly does satisfy, for He
is “the Bread of life [and] he who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who
believes in Me shall never thirst.” (Jn. 6:35).
In addition, those who
partake of Him, “eat and drink wine and fat without money or price” (Is. 55:1,2
LXX). In the sacrifices of ancient
Israel, the fat of the animal was considered the best portion. Therefore the fat was reserved
exclusively to God as a holocaust (Lev. 3:16). Christ Jesus offered Himself entirely to God, being the best
portion our race ever offered to God.
Understand from this
reading that the soul that comes to the Lord Jesus and hears Him, lives (Is.
55:3), a truth which Christ God Himself reiterates: “come to Me that you may
have life” (Jn. 5:40), and “have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10).
The prophecy of Isaiah
calls the Lord Jesus “an everlasting covenant” (Is. 55:3). For the Faithful, baptized and united
to Christ, who remain united to Him, He is eternal life: “this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that everyone
who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life” (Jn.
6:40). Pray that Christ may give
you light (Eph. 5:14)!
Also, Christ is the
fulfillment of the promise to King David (Is. 55:3), for at one time God
promised David “I will not lie; his seed for ever shall abide, and his throne
shall be as the sun before Me, and as the moon that is established for ever”
(Ps. 88:34,35 LXX: Ps. 89:35,36 MT).
And now, this is fulfilled; for Jesus is, indeed, “exalted to the right
hand of God” (Acts 2:33).
Being seated at the right
hand of God, the Lord Jesus will one day be blessed as “a Prince and Commander
to the nations” (Is. 55:4). The
word used in the Septuagint (LXX) is “ethne,” referring to all peoples and
nations other than Jews. Already
today the Lord is the Divine, historical Witness to the true nature of the
Godhead to all nations (vs. 4). As
a result, for several of the world’s peoples He has become Prince and Commander
(vs. 4). Nations that He did not
know have turned to Him, because “the Holy One of Israel...has glorified [Him]”
(vs. 5).
Therefore, we are to seek
Christ “while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” (vs. 6), that
“He may have mercy on [us], and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (vs.
7). Let us not hesitate to do this
for, as Theodoret of Cyrus admonishes: “He will give you a portion in His mercy
and make you a gift of deliverance from your sins.”
Above all, let us be
confident in all this, for the message from the Father is that Christ our God
is the eternal Word “that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me
empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose” (vs. 11) - a truth beyond
all human thought (vss. 8,9).
The Lord Jesus has
accomplished, is accomplishing, and will accomplish that for which God the
Father sent Him (vss. 10-11), a fact that should give us great joy and peace
(vs.12).
Great art Thou, O Lord,
and no word sufficeth to hymn Thy wonders.
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