Comfort

Homily for Wednesday of the Second Week in Advent

Starting with the readings of yesterday’s liturgy, our Advent thoughts move from the consideration of the second coming of Jesus to the issue of Jesus’ appearance in history. Second Isaiah or Deutero Isaiah can be summed up in a single word: “comfort.” The prophet is speaking to those who have been languishing under the oppressive regime of King Nebuchadnezzar. In speaking to his fellow Israelites, Isaiah wishes them to consider what they can expect; namely, deliverance from their servitude.

Halfway through the reading, we hear Isaiah ask a question: “Do you not know, or have you not heard?” The Lord their God will renew the strength of his people so “they shall run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.”

God promises the same strength to us. When we feel weighed down by the cross as we bear and the burdens of everyday living, God continues to lift us up and show us the way to peace. God lacks nothing, and those who trust in God already have everything they need.

Much the same as Isaiah proclaimed seven centuries before him, Jesus offers strength to the weary and comfort to the afflicted. He speaks of his yoke which he contends is easy and his burden which is light. Each individual rabbi’s interpretation of the Jewish law or the Talmud, imposed a certain burden upon the faithful Israelite. Strict rabbis had heavy yokes, hard for those under their influence to follow and obey. More pastoral rabbis could be more generous in their application of the law, making people feel loved instead of judged. However, no rabbi was more generous than Jesus, for he himself was the fulfillment of the law, relieving everyone else of the burden. He was love and mercy for all. He calls upon us to lighten people’s burdens by loving and forgiving them as he has loved and forgiven us.

Indeed, everything we need is found in our God – God is the one who gave us life and who sustains us in it. Trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness.