RBWords

     The story of Isaiah's call to prophetic ministry is awe-inspiring!  Such dramatic visions seem a bit fantastic to us nowadays, but the result of the vision is the Book of Isaiah in the Bible, and its influence on the subsequent history of Judaism and Christianity cannot be understated!!  The gospels and the letters of St. Paul would be far less rich in their meaning without Isaiah!  One has only to read the "infancy narratives" in the gospels of Matthew and Luke to understand this.  

     The Book of Isaiah seems, however, to be the product of more than one personality - all of whom were powerful prophetic figures.  The trembling prophet of today's story may not be the lyric poet of the songs of the Suffering Servant later on in the book.  Nevertheless, these figures were divinely inspired, and their disciples were zealous in maintaining the tradition by writing it down for future generations.  Recall in Luke 4, how Jesus read from Isaiah and then told the audience that he (Jesus) was the one whom Isaiah was talking about!  The audience was indignant that a mere carpenter could claim that!!!!

     On a personal note, the line from today's passage inspired me as I was approaching my ordination to the priesthood.  I had it printed on one of my "ordination cards" that are traditionally given on that occasion.  My "call" was not so dramatic, but I'm still trying to do the best I can for the one who has "sent" me!   AMEN