The Spirit of the Lord is upon me
1 The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is upon me,
because Yahweh has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up broken hearts,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
freedom to those languishing in prison;
2 to announce the year of Yahweh’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to give comfort to all who grieve;
3 (to comfort those who mourn in Zion)
and give them a garland instead of ashes,
oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and festal clothes instead of despair.
They will be called oaks of integrity
planted by Yahweh to show his glory.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and repair cities laid waste,
left desolate for many generations.
5 Strangers will stand to feed your flocks,
foreigners to be your plowmen and vinedressers.
6 But you will be named priests of Yahweh,
you will be called ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations
and bathe in the splendor of their riches.
7 Since my people’s shame has been twofold
and disgrace has been their lot,
they will possess a double portion
of inheritance in their land.
I will give them everlasting joy.
8 For I, Yahweh, love justice,
I hate robbery and oppression;
I will give them their due reward
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a race Yahweh has blessed.
10 I rejoice greatly in Yahweh,
my soul exults for joy in my God,
for he has clothed me in the garments of his salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of his righteousness,
like a bridegroom wearing a garland,
like a bride adorned with jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its growth,
and as a garden makes seeds spring up,
so will the Lord Yahweh make justice and praise
spring up in the sight of all nations.
- Isaiah 42,1
- Luke 4,18
- Acts 10,38
- Luke 7,22
- Isaiah 63,4
- Exodus 19,6
- Revelation 1,6
- Isaiah 55,3
- Luke 1,46
- Revelation 19,8
- Revelation 21,2
The prophet recalls the mission he received from God, to announce to the Jewish pioneers who returned to Jerusalem that God would bless their efforts. The ruins would be rebuilt; the people would come back in great numbers from the countries where they were exiled; those who doubt or are discouraged must persevere because, soon, God will come to visit his people.
Speaking in the synagogue of Nazareth, Jesus read this text and said: "Today it is being fulfilled" (Lk 4:16). And the people who heard him were saying: "God has visited his people."
And yet, we who come after him wonder: If Christ brought God's salvation twenty centuries ago, why are so many people still waiting for the good news of their liberation?
It is because the Gospel is a seed and the resurrection does not immediately bring about the transformation of the world. If the Jewish people endured fifteen centuries of searching and trials before their Savior came, how will other people obtain the definitive Peace of the Kingdom of God without first passing through the great trials preceding Christ's return? We are already quite blessed to have him in our midst and his Spirit upon us.
To heal, to fortify; perfume and garlands: the coming of God to his people fills us with happiness; without fear or boredom, so frequently at the heart of religious practices.
