Friday, March 18, 2011

Isa 41, 5. 8-9 You whom I have called my servant

(Isa 41, 5. 8-9) You whom I have called my servant

[5] The coastlands see, and fear; the ends of the earth tremble: these things are near, they come to pass. [8] But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, offspring of Abraham my friend – [9] You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and summoned from its far-off places, You whom I have called my servant, whom I have chosen and will not cast off

(CCC 713) The Messiah's characteristics are revealed above all in the "Servant songs" (Cf. Isa 42:1-9; Mt 12:18-21; Jn 1:32-34; then cf. Isa 49:1-6; Mt 3:17; Lk 2:32; finally cf. Isa 50:4-10 and Isa 52:13-53:12). These songs proclaim the meaning of Jesus' Passion and show how he will pour out the Holy Spirit to give life to the many: not as an outsider, but by embracing our "form as slave" (Phil 2:7). Taking our death upon himself, he can communicate to us his own Spirit of life.

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