In the first reading for mass today, the prophet Isaiah describes what it felt like to stand before the throne of God. He was acutely aware of his own sinfulness as he stood in the presence of God, in His holy temple. One can only imagine all of the feelings he must have been experiencing, but the prophet Isaiah’s main thought was about his unworthiness to be there. He was ashamed of himself. God must have seen something good in Isaiah though, or else He would not have brought him before His throne.
God had compassion on Isaiah, because of his ‘unclean lips’ though. That’s what is so remarkable about the first reading for Mass today, is God’s compassion. There was no denying Isaiah’s sins, they were glaringly obvious. God didn’t ignore his sins, but had the desire to remove them and make him clean again. (Where have we heard this before?)
God sent a seraphim with a burning ember to touch Isaiah’s lips and make them clean. After the seraphim touched Isaiah’s lips he said, “See, now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed your sin purged.” How awesome is that? Doesn’t it remind you a whole lot like confession?
Sometimes when God calls a person to a particular task, He prepares them for it, Himself. In Isaiah’s case, God needed him to become a prophet and to speak God’s words to His people, therefore God removed all the sins Isaiah had committed and gave him ‘clean lips’.
Many times when modern people are being prepared for a particular vocation or ministry, they may not even be aware of how God was forming them, until everything comes together and gels. In hindsight, they see that it was God’s will all along, the decisions they had made and the paths they had trod, to arrive there. This is most especially true in the call to the priesthood or religious life, but it also applies to any genuine calling by God, to do His will. This is often the case in particular ministries that people are called to serve in, in the church too .
It wasn’t until after the prophet Isaiah’s sins were removed that he even began to feel worthy of his call by God though. This is also some wonderful advise for us as well. Before any major decision or undertaking is conducted in our own lives, we should go to confession first, and start out on the right foot. (Confessions are actually being heard today in most parishes, or will be so at some point during the weekend, by the way.)
After the prophet Isaiah’s sins were removed, God asked him, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” It was then, that the prophet Isaiah felt worthy to answer His call with, “Here I am … send me!”
The main theme of what Jesus is telling his disciples in today’s gospel though, is to not to worry so much about what other people think of them. They may encounter people who think badly of them, and accuse them of all kinds of things, but they shouldn’t worry about it. God knows the truth. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of them.
Can’t you just feel the kindness and compassion in Christ’s words in the gospel today? His words are soothing and so very healing. We are his modern day disciples and his words apply just as much to us today, as they did to his disciples over 2,000 years ago.
Perhaps you can picture him saying these words to you too?
“… do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known … do not be afraid of those who kill the body but can not kill the soul … Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
A person’s soul is the most valuable thing in the universe to God and to His son Jesus Christ. You are more valuable to God than all the precious gems, silver and gold in the entire world. The beauty of your soul will not be fully revealed in this life. And yes your soul is very beautiful to Jesus and to His Father. They have made provisions for us, so that we will not be ashamed of our flaws, shortcomings, sins and mistakes. Confession washes us clean. If there are any traces of sin that remain when we die, then they too, will be taken away like the ember that was touched to Isaiah’s lips.
There is no one that is perfectly holy except Jesus. He said in today’s gospel that, “No disciple is above his teacher and no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master.” So, we should lighten up on ourselves a little bit today. God and Jesus both love us just as we are. Even with all our flaws and shortcomings, they still see a lot of good in each and every one of us.
Daily Mass Readings:
Isaiah 6: 1-8 / Psalm 93 / Matthew 10: 24-33
