WEBVTT 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:08.919 in a year. Today's reading is from the book of 00:00:08.919 --> 00:00:14.519 Isaiah, chapters 40 and 41. Chapter 40 Comfort, 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:17.780 yes, comfort my people, says your God. Speak 00:00:17.780 --> 00:00:20.500 comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that 00:00:20.500 --> 00:00:23.960 her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, 00:00:23.980 --> 00:00:26.760 for she has received from the Lord's hand double 00:00:26.760 --> 00:00:29.539 for all her sins. The voice of one crying in 00:00:29.539 --> 00:00:31.760 the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, 00:00:31.899 --> 00:00:34.659 make straight in the desert, a highway for our 00:00:34.659 --> 00:00:37.579 God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every 00:00:37.579 --> 00:00:40.399 mountain and hill brought low. The crooked places 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:42.899 shall be made straight, and the rough places 00:00:42.899 --> 00:00:46.000 smooth. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, 00:00:46.219 --> 00:00:49.140 and all the flesh shall see it together. For 00:00:49.140 --> 00:00:51.740 the mouth of the Lord has spoken. The voice said, 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:55.979 Cry out. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh 00:00:55.979 --> 00:00:58.859 is grass, and all its loveliness is like the 00:00:58.859 --> 00:01:01.979 flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower 00:01:01.979 --> 00:01:05.280 fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:08.879 it. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, 00:01:08.939 --> 00:01:11.859 the flower fades, but the word of our God stands 00:01:11.859 --> 00:01:15.560 forever. O Zion, you who bring good tidings, 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:18.840 get up into the high mountain. O Jerusalem, you 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:21.640 who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with 00:01:21.640 --> 00:01:25.159 strength. Lift it up, be not afraid. Say to the 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:28.680 cities of Judah, Behold your God. Behold, the 00:01:28.680 --> 00:01:31.900 Lord God shall come with a strong hand, and his 00:01:31.900 --> 00:01:34.879 arm shall rule for him. Behold, his reward is 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:37.659 with him, and his work before him. He will feed 00:01:37.659 --> 00:01:40.060 his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the 00:01:40.060 --> 00:01:43.280 lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:46.599 and gently lead those who are with young, who 00:01:46.599 --> 00:01:48.939 has measured the waters in the hollow of his 00:01:48.939 --> 00:01:52.239 hand. Measured heaven with a span and calculated 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:55.379 the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the 00:01:55.379 --> 00:01:58.000 mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? 00:01:58.459 --> 00:02:01.140 Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as 00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:04.379 his Counselor has taught him? With whom did he 00:02:04.379 --> 00:02:07.180 take counsel, and who instructed him, and taught 00:02:07.180 --> 00:02:10.319 him in the path of justice? Who taught him knowledge 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:13.539 and showed him the way of understanding? Behold, 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:16.680 the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:19.699 counted as the small dust on the scales. Look, 00:02:19.860 --> 00:02:22.719 he lifts up the isles as a very little thing, 00:02:22.919 --> 00:02:26.280 and Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor its 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:29.620 beasts sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations 00:02:29.620 --> 00:02:32.360 before him are as nothing, and they are counted 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:35.599 by him less than nothing and worthless. To whom 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:39.020 then will you liken God, or what likeness will 00:02:39.020 --> 00:02:42.240 you compare to him? The workman molds an image, 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:46.219 the goldsmith overspreads it with gold, and the 00:02:46.219 --> 00:02:50.050 silversmith casts silver chains. Whoever is too 00:02:50.050 --> 00:02:52.849 impoverished for such a contribution chooses 00:02:52.849 --> 00:02:55.789 a tree that will not rot. He seeks for himself 00:02:55.789 --> 00:02:58.590 a skillful workman to prepare a carved image 00:02:58.590 --> 00:03:01.889 that will not totter. Have you not known? Have 00:03:01.889 --> 00:03:04.210 you not heard? Has it not been told you from 00:03:04.210 --> 00:03:06.969 the beginning? Have you not understood from the 00:03:06.969 --> 00:03:09.870 foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above 00:03:09.870 --> 00:03:12.210 the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants 00:03:12.210 --> 00:03:15.009 are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the 00:03:15.009 --> 00:03:17.550 heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out 00:03:17.550 --> 00:03:20.469 like a tent to dwell in. He brings the princes 00:03:20.469 --> 00:03:23.009 to nothing, he makes the judges of the earth 00:03:23.009 --> 00:03:27.110 useless. Scarcely shall they be planted, scarcely 00:03:27.110 --> 00:03:30.310 shall they be sown, scarcely shall their stock 00:03:30.310 --> 00:03:34.069 take root in the earth, when he will also blow 00:03:34.069 --> 00:03:36.810 on them, and they will wither, and the whirlwind 00:03:36.810 --> 00:03:40.009 will take them away like stubble. To whom then 00:03:40.009 --> 00:03:42.909 will you liken me, or to whom shall I be equal, 00:03:43.069 --> 00:03:46.219 says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high 00:03:46.219 --> 00:03:49.539 and see who has created these things. Who brings 00:03:49.539 --> 00:03:52.979 out their host by number, he calls them all by 00:03:52.979 --> 00:03:55.979 name. By the greatness of his might and the strength 00:03:55.979 --> 00:03:59.639 of his power, not one is missing. Why do you 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:02.860 say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel? My way is 00:04:02.860 --> 00:04:05.939 hidden from the Lord, and my just claim is passed 00:04:05.939 --> 00:04:09.039 over by my God. Have you not known? Have you 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:12.150 not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord. The 00:04:12.150 --> 00:04:15.229 creator of the ends of the earth neither faints 00:04:15.229 --> 00:04:18.670 nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 00:04:18.829 --> 00:04:21.509 He gives power to the weak, and to those who 00:04:21.509 --> 00:04:25.170 have no might he increases strength. Even the 00:04:25.170 --> 00:04:27.870 youth shall faint and be weary, and the young 00:04:27.870 --> 00:04:30.850 men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on 00:04:30.850 --> 00:04:33.509 the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall 00:04:33.509 --> 00:04:36.529 mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run 00:04:36.529 --> 00:04:40.009 and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. 00:04:42.250 --> 00:04:46.329 Chapter 41 Keep silence before me, O coastlands, 00:04:46.550 --> 00:04:49.230 and let the people renew their strength. Let 00:04:49.230 --> 00:04:52.209 them come near, then let them speak. Let us come 00:04:52.209 --> 00:04:55.329 near together for judgment. Who raised up one 00:04:55.329 --> 00:04:58.629 from the east? Who in righteousness called him 00:04:58.629 --> 00:05:01.569 to his feet? Who gave the nations before him, 00:05:01.649 --> 00:05:04.970 and made him rule over kings? Who gave them as 00:05:04.970 --> 00:05:08.410 the dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his 00:05:08.410 --> 00:05:12.240 bow? who pursued them and passed safely by the 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:15.660 way that he had not gone with his feet, who has 00:05:15.660 --> 00:05:18.279 performed and done it, calling the generations 00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:22.560 from the beginning. I, the Lord, am the first, 00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:26.920 and with the last I am he. The coastlands saw 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:29.819 it and feared. The ends of the earth were afraid. 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:33.100 They drew near and came. Everyone helped his 00:05:33.100 --> 00:05:35.579 neighbor and said to his brother, Be of good 00:05:35.579 --> 00:05:38.779 courage. So the craftsmen encouraged the goldsmith. 00:05:39.149 --> 00:05:42.069 He who smoothies with the hammer inspired him 00:05:42.069 --> 00:05:45.209 who strikes the anvil, saying, It is ready for 00:05:45.209 --> 00:05:48.050 the soldering. Then he fastened it with pegs, 00:05:48.050 --> 00:05:51.410 that it might not totter. But you, Israel, are 00:05:51.410 --> 00:05:54.930 my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants 00:05:54.930 --> 00:05:58.949 of Abraham my friend, you whom I have taken from 00:05:58.949 --> 00:06:01.889 the ends of the earth and called from its farthest 00:06:01.889 --> 00:06:04.850 regions, and said to you, You are my servant, 00:06:05.050 --> 00:06:07.709 I have chosen you and have not cast you away. 00:06:08.329 --> 00:06:11.389 Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, 00:06:11.410 --> 00:06:14.509 for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, 00:06:14.610 --> 00:06:17.529 I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous 00:06:17.529 --> 00:06:20.990 right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed 00:06:20.990 --> 00:06:24.370 against you shall be ashamed and disgraced. They 00:06:24.370 --> 00:06:27.189 shall be as nothing, and those who strive with 00:06:27.189 --> 00:06:30.529 you shall perish. You shall seek them and not 00:06:30.529 --> 00:06:33.870 find them. Those who contended with you, those 00:06:33.870 --> 00:06:37.350 who war against you, shall be as nothing. As 00:06:37.350 --> 00:06:40.430 a non -existent thing. For I, the Lord your God, 00:06:40.629 --> 00:06:43.769 will hold your right hand, saying to you, Fear 00:06:43.769 --> 00:06:47.370 not, I will help you. Fear not, you worm Jacob, 00:06:47.709 --> 00:06:50.870 you men of Israel. I will help you, says the 00:06:50.870 --> 00:06:53.670 Lord, and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 00:06:54.329 --> 00:06:56.649 Behold, I will make you into a new threshing 00:06:56.649 --> 00:07:00.209 sledge with sharp teeth. You shall thresh the 00:07:00.209 --> 00:07:03.050 mountains and beat them small, and make the hills 00:07:03.050 --> 00:07:06.519 like chaff. You shall winnow them. The wind shall 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:09.379 carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:12.300 them. You shall rejoice in the Lord and glory 00:07:12.300 --> 00:07:15.920 in the Holy One of Israel. The poor and needy 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:18.699 seek water, but there is none. Their tongues 00:07:18.699 --> 00:07:21.939 fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them. 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:24.800 I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. 00:07:24.899 --> 00:07:28.319 I will open rivers in desolate heights and fountains 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:30.759 in the midst of the valleys. I will make the 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:34.040 wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:36.839 of water. I will plant in the wilderness the 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:40.100 cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the 00:07:40.100 --> 00:07:43.220 olive tree. I will set in the desert the cypress 00:07:43.220 --> 00:07:45.819 tree and the pine and the box tree together, 00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:49.899 that they may see and know and consider and understand 00:07:49.899 --> 00:07:52.600 together that the hand of the Lord has done this 00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:56.240 and the Holy One of Israel has created it. Present 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:59.220 your case, says the Lord. Bring forth your strong 00:07:59.220 --> 00:08:02.319 reasons, says the King of Jacob. Let them bring 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:04.660 forth and show us what will happen. Let them 00:08:04.660 --> 00:08:07.759 show the former things what they were, that we 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:10.220 may consider them, and know the latter end of 00:08:10.220 --> 00:08:13.620 them, or declare to us things to come. Show the 00:08:13.620 --> 00:08:16.620 things that are to come hereafter, that we may 00:08:16.620 --> 00:08:20.740 know that you are gods. Yes, do good or do evil, 00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:23.399 that we may be dismayed and see it together. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:26.779 Indeed, you are nothing, and your work is nothing. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:30.779 He who chooses you is an abomination. I have 00:08:30.779 --> 00:08:33.480 raised up one from the north, and he shall come. 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:36.299 From the rising of the sun he shall call on my 00:08:36.299 --> 00:08:39.259 name, and he shall come against princes as though 00:08:39.259 --> 00:08:43.320 mortar, as the potter treads clay. Who has declared 00:08:43.320 --> 00:08:46.139 from the beginning that we may know, and former 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:49.580 times that we may say he is righteous? Surely 00:08:49.580 --> 00:08:52.559 there is no one who shows. Surely there is no 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:55.000 one who declares. Surely there is no one who 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:58.259 hears your words. The first time I said to Zion, 00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:01.639 Look, there they are, and I will give to Jerusalem. 00:09:02.110 --> 00:09:05.049 one who brings good tidings. For I looked, and 00:09:05.049 --> 00:09:07.850 there was no man. I looked among them, but there 00:09:07.850 --> 00:09:10.889 was no counselor, who, when I asked of them, 00:09:10.970 --> 00:09:14.850 could answer a word. Indeed, they are all worthless. 00:09:15.149 --> 00:09:18.029 Their works are nothing. Their molded images 00:09:18.029 --> 00:09:27.090 are wind and confusion. I hope you enjoyed today's 00:09:27.090 --> 00:09:29.309 reading as much as I did, and I look forward 00:09:29.309 --> 00:09:31.350 to seeing you again tomorrow to continue on our 00:09:31.350 --> 00:09:33.440 journey. God bless you and have a great day.