Isaiah 57: Ransom
Friday, August 19, 2022
Sticking out one’s tongue is evidently an ancient sign of mockery and disdain, as we read today in verse 4. It is not new in our modern age. And neither is contempt for the righteous. Devout men are swept away, with no one giving it a thought.
We often hear Isaiah read out during the season of Advent when we anticipate the coming of the holy one who dwells on high with the crushed and dejected in spirit, to revive the dejected and the hearts of the crushed. We are told that this holy one does not want to terrify the souls he has made but rather heal their ways, comfort and lead them. This holy one desires peace.
The psalm in this morning’s MAGNIFICAT prayer is number 49. For no man can buy his own ransom, or pay a price to God for his life. The ransom of his soul is beyond him. He cannot buy life without end, nor avoid coming to the grave.
In yesterday’s evening prayer is this from Ephesians: I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace . . .
We are pearls of great price, once lost and now found, ransomed at a great price . . . the life of the creator’s own son . . . for we are loved this well.
When it appears as though our many works go unnoticed or are pointless in the storm of life, we must rely on the fact that God notices all. When it seems as though those of evil ways win and those of peaceful ways lose, we must trust God to take a proper accounting and to ransom those who are lost.
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Adapted from a reflection written on Thursday, July 2, 2009.
The Noontimes 