Fr. David's Lenten Reflections Day 4
Day 4:
Today we come to the fourth day of our Lenten journey, God bless you as you travel the path to the Cross and to our Lord’s resurrection.
This year’s reflections focus on the Lenten readings from the prophesy of Isaiah. Yesterday we heard how the law of the gospel of Jesus Christ would come forth from Sion, and it would be a law of peace. But the reading today is anything but peaceful. How can that be? These passages must be read spiritually. The end of war is the end of looking to the things of this world as evidence of God’s favor or punishment. The peace that the gospel brings is inner peace and stillness. When we love God and Him alone, we forsake pride in our accomplishments in this world, and learn to serve the Lord in humility. Let’s listen to Isaiah 2:12-21
12 For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and haughty, and upon every one that is high and towering, and they shall be brought down; 13 and upon every cedar of Libanus, of them that are high and towering, and upon every oak of Basan, 14 and upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, 15 and upon every high tower, and upon every high wall, 16 and upon every ship of the sea, and upon every display of fine ships. 17 And every man shall be brought low, and the pride of men shall fall: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. 18 And they shall hide all idols made with hands, 19 having carried them into the caves, and into the clefts of the rocks, and into the caverns of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth. 20 For in that day a man shall cast forth his silver and gold abominations, which they made in order to worship vanities and bats; 21 to enter into the caverns of the solid rock, and into the clefts of the rocks, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.
Why do we need to be brought low, brothers and sisters? It is because pride more than anything prevents us from seeking after God. God does not need to exalt Himself in order to feel good and satisfied, not at all. But today’s reading reminds us that He is exalted because He alone is our salvation, and not we ourselves.