Thursday, May 6, 2004
Christ is Risen!
The Righteous Job the Long-suffering
2nd of Mid-Pentecost: Isaiah 55:1-3 Apostle: Acts 10:34-43 Gospel: St. John 8:12-20STRONG> Isaiah 55:1-3 LXX, especially vs. 1: "Ye that thirst, go to the water, and all that have no money, go and
buy; and eat and drink wine and fat without money or price." The Prophet directs, he is insistent, he enjoins the thirsty -
nay, he commands the parched soul: "go to the water." Likewise, the Lord Jesus commands those who thirst to "come to
Me and drink" (Jn. 7:37). In either case - with the Prophet or with the Lord - a feast to satisfy the soul and give life to the
spiritually thirsty is offered (Is. 55:2 and Jn. 7:38). The difference between the Prophet's command and Christ's lies in that
to which the thirsting soul is directed.
Where is the water? What water is meant? In the Gospel command, we have no doubt where we should go to slake our
thirst: "Come to Me and drink"(Jn. 7:37). The Prophetic command is removed from the abstract and is made quite specific
and personal. Christ Jesus provides the specific answer to the spiritual thirst of men by means of an invitational command:
"Come to Me and drink" (Jn.7:37). How do we do this? How do we reach Him for relief?
The Blessed Isaiah points the way for us. "Go to the water" (Is. 55:1). Theodoret of Cyrus clarifies the Lord's point - in
case we should miss it: "Behold what he has shown here...it is thanks to All-Holy Baptism that 'we are justified freely,'
according to the divine Apostle, "by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus'" (Rom. 3:24). Recall that in
Holy Baptism we are filled "with power of [the] Holy Spirit, in the unity of...Christ," becoming "members and partakers of
the death and resurrection of Christ our God."
The Prophet teaches us much more. First, he reveals the cost of unity with Christ, a price that may not be measured in
monetary or other tangible means. Union with the Lord Jesus is freely given to those who thirst, if they will extend His
feast to others - direct others to Him Whom they have received. "Freely you have received, freely give (Mt. 10:8).
As Ambrose of Milan makes clear: "He Who paid the price of His blood for us did not ask a price from us, because He
redeemed us not with gold or silver but with His precious blood. Therefore, you owe that price with which you have been
bought. Even though He does not always demand it, you still owe it. Buy Christ for yourself, then, not with what few men
possess, but with what all men possess by nature but few offer on account of fear. What Christ claims from you is His."
Every soul is made in the image of the Eternal Son of God.
In addition, Isaiah reminds us not to be distracted in expending our labor in this life nor to waste our effort on wrong things
(Is. 55:2). To make clear what to avoid and what to work for, the Prophet speaks the word of the Lord Himself: "Hearken
to Me and ye shall eat that which is good, and your soul shall feast itself on good things" (Is. 55:2). We must purify the
ears of our hearts that we may hear the Lord speaking to us, guiding us, saving us from all false choices, directing us in His
paths to His green pastures beside still waters.
Nor should the final point in verse two be missed: let us turn to Christ and make the effort to sustain an intimate union and
fellowship with Him. God encourages us with a Promise - "Ye shall eat that which is good, and your soul shall feast itself
on good things" (vs. 2). The Lord Jesus yearns to pour out His love, healing, grace - very presence upon us. If we will but
"give heed with [our] ears, and follow [His] ways: Hearken to [Him], and [our] soul shall live in prosperity; and He will
make with [each one who does so] an everlasting covenant, the sure mercies of David" (Is. 55:3).
O Christ God, Master and Maker of all, we kneel to Thee, crying out in faith, saying, Grant us Thy mercy and compassion;
for Thou art the Fountain of life.
