Day 219: Separation from God

Isaiah 59:1-21 Due to the rampant sinfulness of the people, the promised salvation would be long in coming. God reaffirmed his covenant and his imminent judgment.


The Lord’s hand is not shortened: Being All-powerful, the wait for salvation does not indicate any limitation of God. (CCC 311)


Ch 59:17 The military image is appropriate as a model of the struggle against sin and evil. Authors of other books of Scripture and the Church Fathers have used similar language to express the nature and difficulty of this battle against the forces of evil. (CCC 405, 921, 1496, 2015, 2752)


Ch 60:1-22 This poetic hymn of praise extols the beauty of the restored city of Jerusalem. It radiated an overwhelming beauty that reflected the glory of God, which drew people from all nations as promised. Some nations that once were accomplices in the destruction of Jerusalem brought precious stones and raw materials to help build up the city further. The Book of Revelation describes the heavenly Jerusalem in similar terms (cf. 21:9-27).


Your sons...your daughters: Among the people coming to Jerusalem are many of the people of Judah who had been dispersed all around the world. Yet, all who come are of one family, springing from the first parents of the human race, Adam and Eve. 


Ch 60:1-6 This passage constitutes the First Reading at Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. The people from afar who brought gifts to the new city are a type of the Magi (TYPOLOGY!!), the wise men or astrologers from the East, who traveled to bring gifts to the infant Christ after his Birth. 


Ezekiel 19:1-14 In this allegory, Jerusalem is the lion, and her cubs are King Jehoahaz, who was deported to Egypt as a prisoner, and King Jehoiachin, who was exiled to Babylon. The vine was once fruitful but is now dried and withered on account of the exile.

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)




Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven we give you praise and glory. We thank you so much for your Word. And we thank you for giving us your Presence and your Wisdom. Help us to receive your Wisdom and not to just let it pass us by, but to live it. To base our lives upon you and upon the truth that you impart and the Wisdom that you share with us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”