A Word from Isaiah 52

I don’t know about you; but about the only time of year that I think about Mary, the mother of Jesus, is in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Of course, that’s not too surprising, since she appears only a few other times in the rest of the gospel. And yet, if you do a little “calendar calculation,” right about now would be the season in which an angel appeared to Mary and told her that she’d become the mother of the Messiah. And that’s why, in churches that care about such things, today is “The Feast Day of the Annunciation,” which commemorates the angel’s visit.

Not surprisingly, today’s word from Isaiah 52 celebrates the way that God keeps His promises. Writing to people who’d gone for years, waiting for God to do something that would restore their hope, the prophet said this:

How beautiful on the mountains

       are the feet of those who bring good news,

       who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,

       who proclaim salvation, and who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy.

       When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.

       Burst into songs of joy together, for the Lord has comforted his people.

The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations,

       and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. (52:7-10)

Of course, it’s easy to read all this and think, “But that was back in Bible times! It doesn’t change anything about the challenges we face today.” And yet, isn’t God still keeping His promises? And couldn’t today be a day when he announces His good news?

So on this day of the Annunciation, may we be listening for good tidings of peace, and salvation, and joy. And may we long for the day when “all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” Amen.