Theme: God's Illuminating Spirit

COMMENTARY

Lesson 1: Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) (C); Isaiah 58:7-10 (RC); Isaiah 58:5-9a (L)
This passage is a dialogue between the pommeled people of Israel and God. The prophet voices the complaints of the people, as well as the Lord's response. This profound passage is from the hand of trito-Isaiah in the sixth century B.C. and the issue is fasting. The people complain that their pious acts of fasting, a sign of sorrow and supplication, are unnoticed by God. God responds that he is looking for a different kind of fasting; instead of appearing sad and lying prostrate, he wants his people to enter into the pain and sorrow of their brothers and sisters. The prophet promises that they will gain the Almighty's attention by showing compassion to the needy and fr…