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Wednesday, December 20, 2006 Meditation Isaiah 7:10-14 King Ahaz of Judah was in a quandary. The nations of Aram, Ephraim, and Israel were all joining forces against him. But God spoke to him through the prophet Isaiah, telling him to stand firm. These nations would not overthrow Judah. Instead, in time, they would even cease to exist. Isaiah then encouraged Ahaz to ask the Lord for a sign to confirm this word. Being an ungodly man who had no intention of doing God’s will, King Ahaz refused. In spite of his rebellion, the Lord gave him a sign anyway: A young woman would conceive and bear a son, whom the people would call Immanuel. This sign had a double meaning. The first would be fulfilled through the reign of Ahaz’s son, Hezekiah. He was the son born of the young woman for Isaiah’s time, and he did become a sign of God’s presence. Unlike his father, Hezekiah trusted in God, cleansed the nation from idol worship, and gained independence from the powerful nations surrounding them. To the Jews, Hezekiah became a messiah figure, a symbol of God’s favor for his people—and of the people’s call to faithfulness to Yahweh. At the same time, this prophecy from Isaiah also prefigured Jesus Christ, God’s ultimate Messiah. He too was born of a young woman and he was called Immanuel, God is with us. He came to save his people from much more than invading armies. He came to save us from sin and death. God always delivers on his promises. Do you believe that? Jesus assured us that he will be with us always, even to the end of the age, and through the Eucharist, he has fulfilled that promise (Matthew 28:20). No matter what we may be feeling on a given day, no matter how harried and hectic our lives may become, no matter how unworthy we may feel—no matter what, Jesus offers us his own body and blood to help us. He is still God with us, the one who can fill us with peace, give rest to our hearts, and assure us of his mercy. Jesus is waiting to feed us. With joy, hope, and immense expectation, let’s join our brothers and sisters around the table of the Lord. Thank you, heavenly Father, for your faithfulness. I surrender my life into your hands and trust that you will deliver on every word you have spoken to me.
Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 1:26-38 |
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