Year of the Bible

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Overview of the Book of Isaiah Chapter 61: The Holy City/The Church:

Into the air of great joy reflected in the previous chapter, the prophet inserts this very important prophecy about the new messenger (vv. 1–3). The rest of the chapter is made up of three stanzas that celebrate the wonders of the holy city. These wonders can be seen in profound, spiritual renewal (vv. 4–7), perfect fulfillment of the promises made to the ancient patriarchs (vv. 8–9), and joy-in-worship…

The remarkable events and features of the city point to the time of the End, the time of the Lord’s definitive, salvific intervention. In this context, these new things are ultimate and definitive. Because in the New Testament the Church is called “God’s building” (1 Cor 3:9), erected on the foundation of the apostles (1 Cor 3:11), Christian tradition has seen the new, glorious Jerusalem as a symbol of the Church that makes its way through this world and will be made manifest at the end of time (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 756–757).

Read the Book of Isaiah Chapter 61: Good Tidings for the Afflicted

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good tidings to the afflicted;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.

5 Aliens shall stand and feed your flocks,
foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
6 but you shall be called the priests of the LORD,
men shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;
you shall eat the wealth of the nations,
and in their riches you shall glory.
7 Instead of your shame you shall have a double portion,
instead of dishonor you shall rejoice in your lot;
therefore in your land you shall possess a double portion;
yours shall be everlasting joy.

8 For I the LORD love justice,
I hate robbery and wrong;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
and their offspring in the midst of the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge them,
that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
my soul shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring forth before all the nations.

* Daily Lectio Divina Question for Today:

Lord, You announce a year of Your favor, a year of liberty to captives, rescuing us from the peril of sin. Why did You sacrifice so much to save me? 

Scripture text courtesy of the Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006). Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this. If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further

Overview commentary above provided by The Navarre Bible; Major Prophets; James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy, and Thomas McGovern, eds. (New York: Four Courts Press; Scepter Publishers, 2005)