Friday, February 27, 2004
Lenten Fast
Repose of Raphael of Brooklyn (1915)
6th Hour: Isaiah 3:1-14 1st Vespers: Genesis 2:20-3:20 2nd Vespers: Proverbs 3:19-34
Isaiah 3:1-15, especially vs. 11, "Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for
what his hands have done shall be done to him." News reports continue to indicate that
conditions in Russia are far from ideal, despite the removal of the oppressive Soviet Communist
apparatus and its leaders. Responsible officials in the new Russian government, in the Orthodox
Church, and in the nation's business and industrial community are making leonine efforts to
restore the basic functions of the nation, its spiritual life, and its material infrastructure - roads,
rail lines and air service, hospitals, fire and police, and productivity in agriculture and industry.
As they seek to solve their immense national problems, the Russian people are also confronting a
major epidemic of crime. Much of the crime wave appears to be the work of mafia-type
syndicates, whose criminal activities often ruin good projects initiated by government, business,
or industry, disrupting many positive improvements which responsible Russians are struggling to
establish. However, Russia is not the only nation that faces such problems.
One reads today's passage from Isaiah and immediately thinks of the similar and all-too-familiar
reports of crime, scandal, and corruption that continue to appear in many countries of the world
besides Russia, including the United States. World-wide, it seems, there are national leaders
guilty of serious wrong-doing, with misconduct being reported in business, industry, the military,
education, and even in the professions such as law, medicine, and the clergy.
God teaches us through Prophets like Isaiah that there are consequences in life, not only for
individuals, but for nations, cities, parishes, neighborhoods, and families as well. We sing, "God
is the Lord, Which hath shown us light," but the converse also is true. If people's "speech and
their deeds are against the Lord, defying His glorious presence" (vs. 8), one searches in darkness
for righteousness and justice. Let no people complain if they collect consequences after they
"oppress one another, every man his fellow and every man his neighbor" (vs. 5). God keeps an
orderly world, in nature and in the social, psychological, and spiritual realms as well.
Today's reading begins with a prophetic forecast of the dire consequences that soon will befall
God's ancient People of the kingdom of Judah. All the basics of a strong, healthy national life -
food and water but, above all, leadership mighty in body and spirit - will be taken away (vss. 1-3). Instead, immature and imprudent leaders "shall rule over them" (vs. 4). People will turn on
each other and despicable individuals will intimidate everyone (vss. 5-7). The Prophet's
description matches exactly the rise and fall of nations and empires throughout history.
Isaiah's sad forecast continues with an identification of the causes of social, moral, and political
collapse (vss.8-12). The primary or underlying cause is the turning of words and deeds "against
the Lord, defying His glorious presence" (vs. 8). Speech and actions that evade the truth of God
at heart are efforts to force Him out public and private life through partiality in the courts, the
narrowing of opportunities in life, and the stifling of ideas (vs. 9). Of course, there is the open
embracing of sin: "like Sodom they do not hide it" (vs. 9). While the righteous seek God with
their heart and do "eat the fruit of their deeds" (vs. 10); still, God shows clearly that, in His
Kingdom there will be "Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him" (vs. 11).
The passage ends with a Divine lament (vss. 12-15), much like the weeping of the Lord Jesus
over first century Jerusalem (Lk. 13:34-35). The lines from Isaiah particularly bemoan the
leaders who grind "the face of the poor" (vs. 15), although the people as a whole also are judged.
Lord have mercy upon all civil authorities, our Armed Forces, this and every land, and for the
faithful who dwell therein; and deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and necessity.
