DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Isaiah 55:1-13 (01/05) Second Reading, Blessing of
the Waters at the Feast of Theophany
Living
Water: Isaiah 55:1-13, especially vs. 1: “You who are thirsty, go to the water....” In these verses, the Prophet
Isaiah presents God Incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ - He Who by coming in
person as a man enables us to meet the Holy, Life-giving, and Undivided
Trinity. Truly, this God directs everyone
to turn to Him, to - go to the water. Essentially God speaks here in a manner
similar to the way in which He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well:
“If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you, ‘Give
Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living
water” (Jn 4:10). The word in Isaiah also parallels Saint
Ambrose of
We know the
Lord Jesus as food or as Bread that is priceless, but is offered freely, Bread
that truly satisfies; for He is “...the Bread of
life [and] he who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me
shall never thirst.” (Jn. 6:35).
Those who
partake of Christ, drink
wine and have the fat; they “...eat and drink
without money and price.” (Is. 55:1).
In the sacrifices of ancient
Understand
from this reading that whoever comes to the Lord Jesus and heeds Him, lives
(Is. 55:3) - a truth that Christ God Himself reiterates: “...come to Me that you may have life” (Jn. 5:40), and
“...have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10).
The
prophecy of Isaiah calls the Lord Jesus “...an everlasting
covenant...” (Is. 55:3). For
those who are baptized and united to Christ, who remain united to Him, He is
eternal life: “...this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that everyone who
sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life” (Jn.
6:40). May Christ give you light,
life, and every good thing (Eph. 5:14)!
Also,
Christ is the fulfillment of the promise to King David (Is. 55:3). Remember God’s solemn promise to
David “I will not lie; his seed for ever shall abide, and his throne
shall be as the sun before Me, and as the moon that is established for
ever” (Ps. 88:34,35). Now this is fulfilled; for the Lord
Jesus is, indeed, “...exalted to the right hand of God...” (Acts 2:33).
Being
seated at the right hand of God, our Lord will one day be fully revealed as
“...a ruler and commander to the Gentiles,” to all nations (Is.
55:4). The word used in the Septuagint
is ethne, referring to all peoples and nations
other than Jews. Already today
Christ our God is the Divine, Witness to the true nature of the Godhead before
all nations (vs. 4). As a result,
for many of the world’s peoples, He also is ruler and commander
(vs. 4). Nations that He did not
know have turned to Him, because “...the Holy One of
Therefore,
we may seek God through Christ “...and
when [we] find Him, call upon Him [knowing] He draws near to [us]”
(vs. 6). Indeed, “...for He shall forgive your sins abundantly”
(vs. 7). Do not hesitate to do
this. As Theodoret of Cyrus admonishes: “He will give you a
portion in His mercy and make you a gift of deliverance from your sins.”
Above all,
be confident, for Christ our God is the Word Whom the Father sent and Who did “... not
return until...” He accomplished “...whatever I willed...” (vs. 11). He
created and is the new condition beyond human comprehension (vss. 8, 9).
The Lord
Jesus accomplished, is now accomplishing, and will accomplish that for which
God the Father sent Him (vss. 10-11).
May He give you unfailing joy and gladness (vss. 12, 13).
Great art
Thou, O Lord, and no word sufficeth to hymn Thy
wonders.
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