I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
To open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. – Isaiah 42 1-7
At last we have arrived to the beginning of Holy Week – the most important week of the Christian faith.
A long 40 days of fasting, almsgiving and prayer will end later this week with the Triduum … culminating with the greatest victory ever seen by mankind – our Lord’s victory over death.
But it will take a journey through the darkest days, the most brutal hours, to get to that victory.
In our first reading today from Isaiah, we can see traces of a prophetic vision of the events that were to come … events that we will observe once again this week.
Victory of justice. Isaiah writes that God has called you (Jesus) for the victory of justice.
Why was justice needed? Because for many, salvation was seemingly impossible. They were the poor, the weak, the downtrodden, filled with failures and sin. They were the working class of their time. Left with little hope for anything more than the meager life they were handed.
Suddenly, life is turned upside down. Death is conquered. Life would go on. Forgiveness of sins and the prospect of becoming pure and given the way to enter into the kingdom of heaven. It was all suddenly very possible. This was startling news to so many who had believed they had no chance at salvation.
They had feared God. Feared coming face to face with Him. Then they saw the face of Jesus … who became a “light for the nations” and served as a way out of the darkness for all mankind.
Indeed, he opened the “eyes of the blind” to show them that there was hope.
A shocking idea. Then, and now for many who feel trapped in despair.
As Christians, we are called to cooperate with God’s desire to open the eyes of the blind today. To evangelize. To tell the whole world that there is hope. There is salvation. There is a better way.
Feeling persecuted? There is hope.
Feeling shame? There is hope.
Feeling unworthy? There is hope.
Toward the end of this week, if you pay close attention to the readings of the Liturgy, you will see how Jesus, Himself, was treated as an outcast. A criminal. A dangerous person.
He is tried. He is judged. He is beaten. He is mocked.
And he is hung on a tree.
But even on that tree, he embraces the faith, hope and love that He himself offers.
He forgives those who have beaten, mistreated and abandoned Him. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
He grants another the promise of salvation. “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”
He looks out and sees the landscape before him.
The world.
Then … and now.
He sees our world today.
He sees me.
He sees you.
He weeps.
He wants us to want him … as much as He wants us.
Where would you have been that day? At the foot of the cross? Behind the lines set forth by the authorities? Far, far away?
Where are you now?
Our Lord is about to enter into the Passion …
Will you be there with him during the bad times and the good?
