My Bible has remained open for decades and, on occasion, I turn its pages to show passages other than my favorites. Yet, regardless of which book is open, Isaiah with its dated, handwritten notes in the margins always beckons.
Whether he calls me to reflect on verses of relevance and/or smile at my penciled messages from years long past, Isaiah has an open invitation for me to visit anytime. I can stand before my Bible, reflect on the scribbled memories, caress the pages to get a feel for Isaiah’s wisdom, read a specific verse, search for something new, or— as I often do— visit mentally from anywhere I happen to be.
Isaiah’s been my fave since my college undergraduate days. A prophet for all time, he consoles and encourages in my toughest trials and remains constant through thick and thin. His rock-solid wisdom is way better than Krazy Glue; his inspiration, universal. In my darkest moments, Isaiah’s unwavering beacon reassures me of God’s constancy and gives me wings to fly.
For a brief moment I abandoned you; but with great tenderness, I will take you back. In an outburst of wrath, for a moment, I hid my face from you; but with enduring love I take pity on you… so I have sworn not to be angry with you or to rebuke you. Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, my love shall never leave you (Isaiah 54:7-10).
Love is patient, love is kind. It… does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury… but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
Because Isaiah provides comfort, wisdom, and hope, I know many of his verses by heart. Our morning exchanges have been a lifelong staple, so he’s my cuppa joe. I can’t think of a better way to start the daily subchapter in my book of life than with Isaiah’s steadfast reminders of the many blessings ahead.
O Lord, you are my God. I will extol you and praise your name; for you have fulfilled your wonderful plans of old, faithful and true. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces. The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth, for the Lord has spoken (Isaiah 25:1, 8).
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Prayerful thoughts
In Christ, even our failures become a source of grace when we accept them in imitation of his humility and courage; even our anxieties become a path to holiness when we ally them with his sufferings. All that we do and say, if it is done and said in Christ, is done and said well; for true wellness is life in Christ (Clayton C. Barbeau).
Real love wants for truth. Real love accepts the beloved as they are and where they are. Real love offers itself, as it is, in return. Real love has less to do with what we want to be true than with our capacity for acceptance and generosity in the face of what is. Real love is honest (Brendan Busse, SJ).
When we feel anguish, when we have a sense that we do not know who we are, a sense of being profoundly lonely, we become afraid. We can be willing to give up a lot— friendships, communication, even intimacy— so as to protect ourselves from the feeling of being “nobody,” the suffering of loneliness, our anguish. It is only when we can see this in ourselves that we can discover freedom from our compulsions. It is only when we begin to recognize the cry of our own hearts that we can respond to the cry of God to be in relationship with us (Jean Vanier).
Without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. The gift of grace increases as the struggle increases (St. Rose of Lima).
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Blessings 2024… April 2024… February 2024… March 2024…
Blessings 2023… April 2023… August 2023… Christ’s glory… Christmas 2023… February 2023… Flame within… God’s gift… January 2023… July 2023… June 2023… Love’s heart… March 2023… May 2023… November 2023… October 2023… September 2023…
Blessings 2022… August 2022… December 2022… Journey’s light… July 2022… June 2022… Kiss of God… May 2022… Mourning joy… November 2022… October 2022… October saints… Presence… September 2022… Sight… Sitka’s St. Michael… St. Michael prayers
Filed under: blessings, faith, gratitude, Isaiah, prayer, spiritual gifts | Tagged: building community, God's master plan, overcoming adversity |
Shared thoughts... 
Note how Paul’s letter to the Corinthians reaches back to the prophet Isaiah and links the New Testament to the Old. Paul, like Jesus, was a scholar of scripture. Paul was born into a devout Jewish family and became a Pharisee, so Isaiah’s words would be well known to him. His update is commonly repeated during modern marriage ceremonies. So many centuries of wisdom on love embodied in today’s weddings.
Isaiah’s writings are uplifting. He was in my corner long before I “met” St. Teresa of Avila. Great mentors.