Slaves and Exiles No Longer

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator

The readings for today's liturgy are certainly apropos for those of us who struggle with chronic illness and/or disability.

He gives power to the faint, abundant strength to the weak. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, they that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles' wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint (Isaiah 40:29-31).

Chapter 40 of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah is, according to Scripture scholars, the beginning of what is known as Deutero Isaiah, or Second Isaiah. The first thirty-nine chapters of this long book were written before the beginning of what we call the Babylonian captivity or exile. Beginning at Chapter 40, the book takes on a different tone and a different color. Written to the people who are enduring captivity and slavery in Babylon, it has been given the subtitle of the Book of Consolation. As the Israelites once again endured the oppression of slavery, God is proclaimed as their strength and their hope. Years later, the Persian king Cyrus will defeat Babylon and will allow the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.

The popular Marian hymn, known as the "Salve Regina," names us as exiles from heaven, an exile that was brought about by the sin of Adam. When Adam ate of the fruit of the tree of good and evil, he was excluded from God's company, cast out of the garden because he was no longer fit to walk with God. The exile of the Israelites was ended by Cyrus. Our exile is ended by Christ. Like our ancestors, the bar of oppression has been lifted from our shoulders, and we have been given the freedom to walk with God once again. Jesus walks with us; the Gospel tells us that the yoke of slavery to sin has been lifted and we are now yoked to Jesus Christ who makes it possible for us to have access to God, an access that was denied by Adam's sin.

As we struggle with the burden of bodily illness and/or disability, we walk with the surety of those who know that they are assisted by the strength of Christ himself.