B: Feast of Baptism of the Lord (10 Jan 2021) - GRATIS (Isa 55:1-11)

“Come, buy grain without money, wine and milk without cost” (Isa 55:1).

Everything is for free. This is how Isaiah announced it, inclusive of wine and milk. Wine and milk are commodities that are labor-intensive, expensive, and associated with those who have money. But the prophet was declaring that they would come free of charge (cf. Deut 32:14).

This is a good way to end a book, not with a tragic tone, but with an optimistic spirit. We should remember that scholars regard the book of Isaiah as divided into three books or subsections. The text of Isaiah 1−39 (also called proto-Isaiah) that features Isaianic oracles concerning the tumultuous situation of Judea in the 8th century BCE is believed to have been written in the pre-exilic period. The narrative bloc of Isaiah 40−55 (deutero-Isaiah), meanwhile, deals with the Israelites’ experience during the Babylonian exile (587−538 BCE), but the date of its composition remains debated as some even suggest that it could have been composed as late as the 5th century BCE. The last part of the book, i.e., Isaiah 56−66 (trito-Isaiah), is referential of a post-exilic Israelite community and was definitely produced in the Second Temple Period.

The context, hence, of our reading in Isaiah 55 is the final moment of the Israelites in their exile in Babylon. In Isaiah 56, poems for eschatological blessing and servant songs follow. Deutero-Isaiah, in delivering his message at the threshold of their return to their homeland, was giving everybody an assurance that everything would be free, that is to say that everything would come from God’s providential care, inferring that nothing should ever worry anyone.

Unfortunately, our reading today ends abruptly in Isa 55:11, skipping two remaining verses that are very important in construing the final chapter. The text of verse 12 says: “Yes, in joy you shall go forth, in peace you shall be brought home.” As the assurance that God would take care of the rest is ascertained, the Israelites were being enjoined here to carry a disposition of joy and peace. If they were really confident that God would provide for their daily needs, they should not go home with the feeling of being defeated or disheartened for losing fifty long years in unproductive exile. Rather, joy and peace are two virtues that should complement God’s graciousness; without them God’s free gift of freedom is completely meaningless.

Finally, verse 13 seals Isaiah 55 with the statement: “This shall be to the Lord’s renown, as an everlasting sign that shall not fail.” As the Israelites were about to leave their exile, they were reminded by Isaiah that God would stay with them forever, in fact, he never left them in the first place. He would remain as their God and protector as always despite his seeming disappearance in their gloomy and devastating state in Babylon. As they return to Judea, he would be their providential companion as they begin to regain their heritage and identity back.

Needless to elaborate, in our contemporary situation that we near the end of the pandemic crisis, let us put into practice the three vital messages of Isaiah 55 into our context, viz., 1) vaccines should be free, or at least, affordable to the general populace, 2) joy and peace should be our disposition despite losing practically the entirety of 2020 in lockdown and isolation, and 3) our faith on God should even get stronger as he continues to accompany us through thick and thin.

- Rex Fortes, CM