WEBVTT 00:00:00.979 --> 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 --> 00:00:08.960 in a year. Today's reading is from the book of 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:14.699 Isaiah, chapters 44 and 45. Chapter 44 Yet hear 00:00:14.699 --> 00:00:17.420 now, O Jacob, my servant, and Israel, whom I 00:00:17.420 --> 00:00:20.120 have chosen. Thus says the Lord, who made you, 00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:22.859 and formed you from the womb, who will help you. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:26.620 Fear not, O Jacob, my servant, and you, Jeshurun, 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:29.500 whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on 00:00:29.500 --> 00:00:32.340 him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground. 00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:35.340 I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and 00:00:35.340 --> 00:00:38.039 my blessing on your offspring. They will spring 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:40.960 up among the grass, like willows by the water 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:44.240 courses. One will say, I am the Lord's. Another 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:47.140 will call himself by the name of Jacob. Another 00:00:47.140 --> 00:00:50.560 will write with his hand, the Lord's, and name 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:53.840 himself by the name of Israel. Thus says the 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:56.810 Lord, the King of Israel. and his redeemer the 00:00:56.810 --> 00:00:59.670 lord of hosts i am the first and i am the last 00:00:59.670 --> 00:01:03.369 besides me there is no god and who can proclaim 00:01:03.369 --> 00:01:06.989 as i do then let him declare it and set it in 00:01:06.989 --> 00:01:10.010 order for me since i appointed the ancient people 00:01:10.010 --> 00:01:12.909 and the things that are coming and shall come 00:01:12.909 --> 00:01:17.349 let them show these to them do not fear do not 00:01:17.349 --> 00:01:20.650 be afraid have i not told you from that time 00:01:20.650 --> 00:01:24.000 and declared it you are my witnesses Is there 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:27.640 a god besides me? Indeed, there is no other rock. 00:01:27.879 --> 00:01:31.879 I know not one. Those who make an image, all 00:01:31.879 --> 00:01:34.519 of them are useless, and their precious things 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:37.760 shall not profit. They are their own witnesses. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:41.599 They neither see nor know that they may be ashamed. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:45.760 Who would form a god or mold an image that profits 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:48.859 him nothing? Surely all his companions would 00:01:48.859 --> 00:01:52.239 be ashamed, and the workmen, they are mere men. 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:55.519 let them all be gathered together let them stand 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:58.900 up yet they shall fear they shall be ashamed 00:01:58.900 --> 00:02:02.159 together the blacksmith with the tongs works 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:05.239 one in the coals fashions it with hammers and 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:08.319 works it with the strength of his arms even so 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:11.460 he is hungry and his strength fails he drinks 00:02:11.460 --> 00:02:14.840 no water and is faint the craftsman stretches 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:19.039 out his rule he marks one out with chalk he fashions 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:21.740 it with a plane He marks it out with the compass, 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:24.580 and makes it like the figure of a man, according 00:02:24.580 --> 00:02:27.840 to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:31.080 the house. He cuts down cedars for himself, and 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:33.680 takes the cypress and the oak. He secures it 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.479 for himself among the trees of the forest. He 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:39.900 plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it. Then 00:02:39.900 --> 00:02:42.960 it shall be for a man to burn, for he will take 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:45.960 some of it and warm himself. Yes, he kindles 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:49.120 it and bakes bread. Indeed, he makes a god and 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:52.240 worships it. He makes it a carved image and falls 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:55.259 down to it. He burns half of it in the fire. 00:02:55.460 --> 00:02:59.180 With this half, he eats meat. He roasts a roast 00:02:59.180 --> 00:03:02.759 and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, 00:03:02.939 --> 00:03:06.759 Ah, I am warm. I have seen the fire. And the 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:09.979 rest of it, he makes into a god, his carved image. 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:13.479 He falls down before it and worships it, prays 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:16.689 to it and says, Deliver me, for you are my God. 00:03:17.349 --> 00:03:20.569 They do not know nor understand, for he has shut 00:03:20.569 --> 00:03:23.229 their eyes so that they cannot see, and their 00:03:23.229 --> 00:03:26.229 hearts so that they cannot understand. And no 00:03:26.229 --> 00:03:29.009 one considers in his heart, nor is there knowledge 00:03:29.009 --> 00:03:32.530 nor understanding to say, I have burned half 00:03:32.530 --> 00:03:36.370 of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread 00:03:36.370 --> 00:03:39.710 on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it. 00:03:39.870 --> 00:03:42.250 And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:45.699 Shall I fall down before a block of wood? He 00:03:45.699 --> 00:03:49.219 feeds on ashes, a deceived heart has turned him 00:03:49.219 --> 00:03:52.219 aside, and he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, 00:03:52.340 --> 00:03:55.979 Is there not a lie in my right hand? Remember 00:03:55.979 --> 00:03:59.419 these, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant. 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:03.259 I have formed you, you are my servant. O Israel, 00:04:03.319 --> 00:04:06.379 you will not be forgotten by me. I have blotted 00:04:06.379 --> 00:04:09.379 out like a thick cloud your transgressions, and 00:04:09.379 --> 00:04:12.419 like a cloud your sins. Return to me, for I have 00:04:12.419 --> 00:04:15.560 redeemed you. Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has 00:04:15.560 --> 00:04:17.959 done it. Shout, you lower parts of the earth. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:21.680 Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:24.360 and every tree in it. For the Lord has redeemed 00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:28.040 Jacob and glorified himself in Israel. Thus says 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:30.879 the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:34.620 from the womb. I am the Lord who makes all things, 00:04:34.819 --> 00:04:38.180 who stretches out the heavens all alone. Who 00:04:38.180 --> 00:04:42.139 spreads abroad the earth by myself. Who frustrates 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:45.259 the signs of the babblers and drives diviners 00:04:45.259 --> 00:04:49.079 mad. Who turns wise men backward and makes their 00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:52.060 knowledge foolishness. Who confirms the word 00:04:52.060 --> 00:04:54.779 of his servant and performs the counsel of his 00:04:54.779 --> 00:04:57.579 messengers. Who says to Jerusalem, you shall 00:04:57.579 --> 00:05:00.439 be inhabited. To the cities of Judah, you shall 00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:03.199 be built. And I will raise up her waste places. 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:06.860 Who says to the deep, be dry. and I will dry 00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:10.720 up your rivers. Who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, 00:05:10.839 --> 00:05:13.500 and he shall perform all my pleasure. Saying 00:05:13.500 --> 00:05:16.000 to Jerusalem, You shall be built, and to the 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:21.319 temple your foundation shall be laid. Chapter 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:25.459 45 Thus says the Lord to his anointed, To Cyrus, 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:28.620 whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations 00:05:28.620 --> 00:05:32.160 before him and loose the armor of kings, to open 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:34.740 before him the double doors, so that the gates 00:05:34.740 --> 00:05:37.889 will not be shut, I will go before you and make 00:05:37.889 --> 00:05:40.850 the crooked places straight. I will break in 00:05:40.850 --> 00:05:43.329 pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of 00:05:43.329 --> 00:05:46.129 iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness 00:05:46.129 --> 00:05:49.310 and hidden riches of secret places, that you 00:05:49.310 --> 00:05:52.529 may know that I, the Lord, who call you by your 00:05:52.529 --> 00:05:56.610 name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob, my servant's 00:05:56.610 --> 00:06:00.170 sake, and Israel, my elect, I have even called 00:06:00.170 --> 00:06:02.949 you by your name. I have named you, though you 00:06:02.949 --> 00:06:06.129 have not known me. I am the Lord, and there is 00:06:06.129 --> 00:06:09.930 no other. There is no God besides me. I will 00:06:09.930 --> 00:06:12.670 gird you, though you have not known me, that 00:06:12.670 --> 00:06:15.329 they may know from the rising of the sun to its 00:06:15.329 --> 00:06:18.670 setting that there is none besides me. I am the 00:06:18.670 --> 00:06:21.310 Lord, and there is no other. I form the light 00:06:21.310 --> 00:06:23.889 and create darkness. I make peace and create 00:06:23.889 --> 00:06:27.790 calamity. I, the Lord, do all these things. Rain 00:06:27.790 --> 00:06:30.610 down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies 00:06:30.610 --> 00:06:33.620 pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:37.220 let them bring forth salvation, and let the righteousness 00:06:37.220 --> 00:06:41.300 spring up together. I the Lord have created it. 00:06:41.660 --> 00:06:45.120 Woe to him who strives with his maker. Let the 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:47.759 potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:50.819 Shall the clay say to him who forms it, What 00:06:50.819 --> 00:06:53.120 are you making? Or shall your handiwork say, 00:06:53.279 --> 00:06:56.620 He has no hands? Woe to him who says to his father, 00:06:56.759 --> 00:06:59.500 What are you begetting? Or to the woman, What 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:02.259 have you brought forth? Thus says the Lord, the 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:05.600 Holy One of Israel and His Maker, Ask me of things 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:08.480 to come concerning my sons, and concerning the 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:11.540 work of my hands you command me. I have made 00:07:11.540 --> 00:07:15.079 the earth and created man on it. I, my hands, 00:07:15.180 --> 00:07:18.060 stretched out the heavens, and all their hosts 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:21.160 I have commanded. I have raised him up in righteousness, 00:07:21.420 --> 00:07:24.420 and I will direct all his ways. He shall build 00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:28.379 my city and let my exiles go free, not for price 00:07:28.379 --> 00:07:32.319 nor reward. says the Lord of hosts. Thus says 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:34.819 the Lord, the labor of Egypt, and merchandise 00:07:34.819 --> 00:07:38.079 of Cush, and of the Sabians, men of stature, 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:40.879 shall come over to you, and they shall be yours. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:43.779 They shall walk behind you, they shall come over 00:07:43.779 --> 00:07:47.019 in chains, and they shall bow down to you. They 00:07:47.019 --> 00:07:49.180 will make supplication to you, saying, Surely 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:52.220 God is in you, and there is no other, there is 00:07:52.220 --> 00:07:55.860 no other God. Truly you are God, O hide yourself, 00:07:56.220 --> 00:07:59.189 O God of Israel the Savior. They shall be ashamed 00:07:59.189 --> 00:08:02.209 and also disgraced all of them. They shall go 00:08:02.209 --> 00:08:05.550 in confusion together who are makers of idols. 00:08:05.889 --> 00:08:08.970 But Israel shall be saved by the Lord with an 00:08:08.970 --> 00:08:11.670 everlasting salvation. You shall not be ashamed 00:08:11.670 --> 00:08:14.889 or disgraced forever and ever. For thus says 00:08:14.889 --> 00:08:17.589 the Lord who created the heavens, who is God, 00:08:17.829 --> 00:08:20.790 who formed the earth and made it, who has established 00:08:20.790 --> 00:08:24.069 it, who did not create it in vain, who formed 00:08:24.069 --> 00:08:27.250 it to be inhabited. I am the Lord, and there 00:08:27.250 --> 00:08:30.310 is no other. I have not spoken in secret, in 00:08:30.310 --> 00:08:33.009 a dark place of the earth. I did not say to the 00:08:33.009 --> 00:08:36.490 seed of Jacob, Seek me in vain. I, the Lord, 00:08:36.590 --> 00:08:39.970 speak righteousness. I declare things that are 00:08:39.970 --> 00:08:43.370 right. Assemble yourselves and come. Draw near 00:08:43.370 --> 00:08:46.289 together, you who have escaped from the nations. 00:08:46.610 --> 00:08:49.129 They have no knowledge, who carry the wood of 00:08:49.129 --> 00:08:51.690 their carved image, and pray to a God that cannot 00:08:51.690 --> 00:08:55.500 save. Tell and bring forth your case. Yes, let 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:57.840 them take counsel together. Who has declared 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:00.860 this from ancient time? Who has told it from 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:04.519 that time? Have not I the Lord? And there is 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:07.799 no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior. 00:09:07.860 --> 00:09:11.639 There is none besides me. Look to me and be saved, 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:15.059 all you ends of the earth. For I am God and there 00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:18.779 is no other. I have sworn by myself. The word 00:09:18.779 --> 00:09:21.700 has gone out of my mouth in righteousness and 00:09:21.700 --> 00:09:25.059 shall not return. that to me every knee shall 00:09:25.059 --> 00:09:28.320 bow, every tongue shall take an oath, he shall 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:31.120 say, Surely in the Lord I have righteousness 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:34.940 and strength. To him men shall come, and all 00:09:34.940 --> 00:09:38.059 shall be ashamed who are incensed against him. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:41.299 In the Lord all the descendants of Israel shall 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:50.580 be justified and shall glory. I hope you enjoyed 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:52.860 today's reading as much as I did. and I look 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:54.840 forward to seeing you again tomorrow to continue 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:57.039 on our journey. God bless you and have a great 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:57.279 day.