Jesus the Light of the Nations"

Today's Mass Readings

There are many levels that today's first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah can be read. For one thing, we see the affirmation of life in the womb. God knows us from the womb. At another level, we can understand this passage as relating to the prophet Isaiah himself, as the servant called by God. And yet, the passage itself gives this servant a name: Israel.

At a primary level, this passage is about Israel, a people called by God to serve the world. The passage acknowledges the division that occured, where the northern tribes of Israel were severed from the southern tribes. And yet, Isaiah envisions a unification of the tribes at some point in the future.

Here is where it becomes important to read the text in another way. This passage also must be seen to refer to Jesus, the true servant of God, who in His own life, lived out Israel's history. Israel went down to Egypt, so did Jesus' in His infancy. Israel came out of Egypt, so did Jesus after the first Herod had died. Israel was tried for 40 years in the wilderness, and Jesus was tried for 40 days in the wilderness. Israel was scattered in the death of exile, and Jesus was crucified, and descended into the depths of the exile known as death. Jesus' resurrection points toward the future unification of Israel mentioned in Isaiah.

And yet, there is more. In the passage, God mentions that, "It is too little...for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6). Jesus unites Israel in His ministry, through reaching out to Jews, Samaritans, and those following Judaism in Galilee and the north. And yet, He does so much more. Jesus unites Israel and the Gentiles through His death and resurrection, which we all participate in through Baptism. We are now part of one body through Baptism. This is what Isaiah saw in His vision. And this is what we will experience liturgically at Good Friday and at Easter.

For, the betrayal we see hinted at in today's Gospel reading, we will enter into at Good Friday, at the end of this week. By passing through Jesus' death, we shall be raised with Him on Easter. This is the final stretch of Lent. Let us press forward with spiritual vigor.

Let us really spend time in prayer for the rest of this week to prepare us for entering into the mysteries of Jesus' death and resurrection, so that we might leave Lent and enter Easter a new people, transformed by the love of God. Jesus is the light to the nations, Who has enlightened us through the sacraments. I want to encourage you to participate as fully as your schedule allows in the liturgical celebrations at the end of this week: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Taize service Friday evening, Easter Vigil, and/or Easter Sunday. Entering into these celebrations prayerfully has the power to change your life.

- Jeff Morrow