As we begin another year, nearing the end of the first quarter of this new century, we have a chance to reflect on some aspects of Scripture that may have eluded us while we were distracted by the latest shiny objects to surface
and draw our attention away from the true light in the darkness.
Our Old Testament reading for this first Sunday after Epiphany shows Yahweh declaring his glory and affirming the mission that he has assigned his chosen one, also called his beloved. No doubt the one in whom Yahweh says his soul
delights is the one described in the Gospels as the one with whom he is well-pleased. These are synonymous ways of declaring Yahweh’s promised savior has arrived.
Isaiah provides Yahweh’s initial declaration of what will be, while the evangelists describe Yahweh’s declaration from the Heavens when that moment arrives during Jesus’ Baptism. All four Gospels describe the Heavens opening and Yahweh announcing, “This is my Son, my beloved, in whom I am well-pleased” (or similar phrasing, depending on your Bible translation): Matt 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; and John 1:29-34 provide this “A-ha!” moment when some realize the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy in the Baptism of Jesus.
Let’s look at the prophecy in the Isaiah passage:
Look! here is my servant; I hold him, my chosen one, in whom my soul delights. I have put my spirit on him; he will bring justice forth to the nations. 2 He will not cry out and lift up and make his voice heard in the street. 3 He will not break a broken reed, and he will not extinguish a dim wick. He will bring justice forth in faithfulness. 4 He will not grow faint, and he will not be broken until he has established justice in the earth. And the coastlands wait for his teaching. 5 Thus says the God, Yahweh, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it. 6 “I am Yahweh; I have called you in righteousness, and I have grasped your hand and watched over you; and I have given you as a covenant of the people, as a light of the nations, 7 to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoner out from the dungeon, those who sit in darkness from the house of imprisonment. 8 I am Yahweh; that is my name, and I do not give my glory to another, nor my praise to the idols. 9 Look! the former things have come, and I declare new things. I announce them to you before they sprout up.”— Isa 42:1–9 (LEB)
Upon deeper reflection, however, we may notice that this ministry described for Jesus has not ended. Jesus told his disciples that his work will continue on through them, and by extension, through us as well. Jesus hints at it throughout the Gospels, and also declares it clearly in a few Instances:
Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in me, the works that I am doing he will do also, and he will do greater works than these because I am going to the Father. — John 14:12
Jesus is telling his followers to expect greater miracles because the Holy Spirit will be working through them to continue his work on an even greater scale. He tells them about his expectations before his ascension:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest part of the earth.” — Acts 1:8
He also commissions them to do these things during the same gathering:
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age.” — Matt 28:19–20
Yet Jesus did not declare this on his own; he prayed to our Heavenly Father to make it so:
“And I do not ask on behalf of these only, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, 21 that they all may be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they also may be in us, in order that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 And the glory that you have given to me, I have given to them, in order that they may be one, just as we are one— John 17:20–22
These verses reflect the imagery of the original declaration in Isaiah: we are called to continue to convey his covenant to the people, to be light to the nations, to open blind eyes to his grace, to free a captive people held in bondage to sin—all for God’s glory and not our own.
As disciples of Christ, we are called to be his hands and feet in this world. The usual contemporary perception of a Christian is someone who believes Jesus provides our salvation in all the particulars mentioned in the Nicene Creed. Mere belief, however, is just the launch pad. Our true mission as disciples takes off from there as we venture into our world bringing his light with us into the darkness. This Isaiah passage describes the pending arrival of the promised Messiah, and yet much more, as the Messiah’s ascension promises a continuance of his ministry through his
followers.
That means us.
An epiphany is often defined as an “A-ha!” moment involving God in our life. Our role as disciples being reflected in prophecies from centuries before Jesus’ ministry on earth began should qualify as such.
Have a blessed and wonderful 2024 as we continue to strive to bring his light into our darkened world.
Your Brother in Christ,
Fr. Austin