Fifth Second Sunday Of Lent, April 6, 2025

The greatest of the prophets was Isaiah, was born in the second half of the 8th century B.C. He lived in a time of great political turmoil and moral decline for the Israelites and received his prophetic call from God in 742 B.C. Isaiah experienced the spirit of God in his heart, and often felt overwhelmed by the holiness of God in comparison with his own sinfulness. Isaiah served as a prophet voice when most of the culture around him was pagan.

The words of Isaiah in the first reading (Isaiah 43: 16-21) announce God’s message to his chosen people ‘’I am showing my people blessings, I am their God, I gave them water, I gave them chariot horses, a powerful army, and victories over their enemies.’’

No need to remember their sins of the past nor God’s goodness of long ago as if he no longer is taking caring of his people. God says ‘I am making a road in the wilderness, rivers in the wild to give my people drink. I am in the midst of my people now, I am doing a new deed, a new time of grace and blessing. The people I have formed will give me praise.

I want to apply God’s message as spoken by Isaiah to all of us who live now. God is saying he has forgiven their sins and failures of their past, and he is present and active in each of our lives. All too often we remember God’s activity of the past but fail to recognize God’s presence and blessings in the present and in our life now. We fail to notice the working of God in our family, in our business, in our loved ones, in our acts of service to our parish and club and community.

Many are blessed with businesses and work that is satisfying, homes that they own, families that they love, opportunities to serve their communities, health and education systems that are excellent and some leisure time. We can be grateful for the ongoing presence of God in our lives.

Yet, in many parts of the world life is very different. Our brothers and sisters in war-torn area are without homes, food, respect, medical care and live under a cloud of fear and hopelessness. On their behalf we plead with God for his active presence.

Even in prosperous nations, large segments of the population live without human dignity in their housing, in their quality of life, medical care and educational opportunities. Many who despite their best efforts are not able to better themselves. We pray that God’s message given through Isaiah will come about for them, that God will make something new and great for them, and that each of us, when possible, will be God’s helping agents.

For many people in our nation and beyond who are burdened with illness, loneliness, abandonment, grief, poverty and are victims of injustice, I pray that God’s promise to make something new in the present time will take place. The promise of God ‘to make something new and great’ is held out to you and me.

Remember that promise, place yourself under God’s care, and ask God to make possible whatever is his gift to you now.

APPLICATIONS A. What new blessing and grace do you need now to make your life peaceful and content? B. Each day this week remind yourself of God’s desire to make some new and great in your life! C. What blessings do you already have in your life? D. Ps 125 in todays Mass proclaims ‘what marvels the Lord has done for us, we are glad indeed.

[Presented by Father David O’Connor, email: doconnor.natchez@gmail.com]

Father David O'Connor 10 Morgantown Road Natchez, MS 39120-2788

Pope John Paul II, during his first U.S. visit in 1979, at Yankee Stadium, New York City. Source