Main news for 2 April 2025

Before us is one of the central passages of Isaiah’s prophecy. The interpretations of the Fathers of the Church reveal its meaning to us as a prophecy about the coming Savior, who is called here the Holy One of Israel. Yet the form of the narrative may suggest that it concerns only Israel’s earthly triumph, and such a reading must have made it considerably harder for part of the people to recognize the Messiah when He came among them. And yet, when the Messiah came to earth, He not only revealed the Heavenly Father in Himself, but also embodied in His human form the traits of those sons of the people of Israel who were closest to God, concentrating in Himself the essence of their spiritual paths.

But the paths shown to Israel are not paths for one people alone. By following them, Israel provided landmarks for all nations. Now all humanity can become God’s numerous and diverse people by receiving the One who would appear in Israel several centuries later.

In what condition does a person usually say that God has forgotten him? Of course, it is usually the condition of grave sin. It seems that if I have forgotten the Lord, then He has no reason to remember me. In today's Old Testament reading the Lord says that it is impossible for Him to forget His people. He remembers us simply because He loves, without conditions and without explanations.

Each of us chooses life or death, freedom in God or the false freedom of sin. But we know that in reality every sin makes a person a slave. Those who in today's reading are called prisoners and those sitting in darkness made their own choice. But today the Lord does not remind them of this. He simply says: "Come out! Show yourselves! The day of salvation has come!" He hears the voice of those who cry to Him for salvation, and He has mercy and saves, because He is the God who has mercy. This passage is the song of the Lord Himself, who rejoices as He delivers and comforts His people.