RETREAT IN LENT 2021
Day 41,
Monday, 29 March
The Servant Songs
Isaiah (42:1-7) here and later gives us what we call the Servant Songs, a
description of the Messiah, the promised one who will lead his people to true
freedom. Through various pictures and poetic expressions we build up an image
of a servant who suffers for us. The steady purpose of God over centuries now
reaches it goal. He is the one ‘in whom my soul delights’. He does not cry out
or waver until he brings through justice. He submits himself to the weight of
the world’s burden. The islands (I come from an island!) are waiting for him.
He will open the eyes of the blind and free the captives.
It is a song of triumph but full of references to the
Passion. The accompanying gospel (John 12:1-11) tells us of the
anointing of the body of Jesus, something that could not happen after his death
– because there would be no body! So it is done before! All of this is fiercely
confident. The early Church knew what it was writing about.
We have entered a week of intense sorrow and will stand by
the cross with Mary on Friday. But it is a week of intense confidence for us in
the one in whom we delight.
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