Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/354

 Scriptures in  order  to  strengthen  our  faith. Our Saviour  says: “Search the Scriptures,  the  same  are  they  that  give  testimony  of  Me”  (John 5,  39). It must,  indeed,  confirm  our  faith  to  see  that  the  very  things which the  Church  teaches  us  about  the  Person  and  Life  of  the  Redeemer, were foretold  by  the  prophets  hundreds  of  years  before  His  Birth.

The prophecies  of  Isaias  constitute  the  ninth  promise  of  the  Messias,  and contain  the  following  important  doctrines  of  faith:

a) That  the  Redeemer  is  God;  for  Ifcaias  writes:  “God  Himself will  come  and  will  save  you”,  and  he  calls  Him  “Emmanuel,  or  God with  us”.  Jesus  Christ  is  indeed  the  true  God  with  us,  for  He  is  the Son  of  God,  made  Man.

b) That  the  Divine  Redeemer  would  be  conceived  and  born  of  a virgin:  “Conceived  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary”.

c) That  He  would  suffer  sorrow  and  pain,  that  He  would  be wounded,  sacrificed  and  slain  (New  Test. LXXIV).

d) That  like  a lamb  He  would  suffer  and  die  patiently  and willingly.  “He  was  offered  because  it  was  His  own  will,  and  He  opened not  His  mouth.  He  shall  be  led  as  a sheep  to  the  slaughter,  and  shall be  dumb  as  a lamb  before  his  shearer.”

e) Isaias  foretells  in  plain  words  that  it  was  on  account  of  the sins  of  men  that  the  Redeemer  would  suffer  and  die,  in  order  to  win pardon  and  salvation  for  them.  Thus  he  teaches  the  doctrine  of  the Vicarious  satisfaction  or  Atonement  made  by  the  Redeemer  of  the  world.

f) Finally,  the  prophet  glances  at  the  glory  of  the  Divine  Saviour, saying  that  His  sepulchre  would  be  glorious,  and  that  the  nations  (Jews and Gentiles)  would  adore  Him.  The  grave  of  our  Lord  was  made glorious  by  His  Resurrection;  and  the  nations  could  not  adore  Him, were  He  not  still  in  heaven  our  God  and  Mediator.  Thus  the  prophecy foretells  that,  as  Saviour  of  His  people,  He  would  rise  from  the  dead,  and sit  on  His  throne  in  heaven: “He  rose  again  from  the  dead,  ascended into  heaven,  and  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  God  the  Father  Almighty.”

Isaias also  describes  in  glowing  terms  the  beauty,  grandeur  and universality of  the  Church  of  Christ  under  the  names  of  the  new  Israel, new Jerusalem,  new  Sion.

Isaias was  a great  Saint  of  the  Old  Testament.  He  is  venerated by the  Church  as  a great  preacher  of  penance,  zealous  for  the  glory of God  and  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  also  as  a highly  inspired  prophet and  martyr. When you  recite  the  Litany  of  the  Saints,  and  say, “All ye  holy  patriarchs  and  prophets,  pray  for  us”,  you  can  think especially of  God’s  holy  prophet,  Isaias.

Is your  piety  only  exterior? Does the  holy fear of  God  reign  within  you? Do you  love  God  with  all  your heart, and  detest  sin? Do you  ever  allow  envious,  malicious,  revengeful, impure,  or  proud  thoughts  to  enter  your  mind? Have you tried  to  amend  your  life  since  your  last  confession?