This past Sunday at Mass, we read one of my favorite set of verses from the Old Testament — from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 6, verses 1-8.

Isaiah — an 8th-century BC prophet and significant contributor to both Jewish and Christian traditions — is considered to be the greatest prophet of all time. Believing in one God, Isaiah lived during a dangerous period in Israel’s history, when the nation was threatened by various ferocious and paganistic rulers.

Isaiah’s Old Testament Book is lengthy. Many scholars agree that the first 39 chapters were written by the prophet himself. In these chapters, Isaiah often writes in the first person, making his shared visions of God and predictions of the coming Messiah even more profound and beautiful. Over and over, Isaiah predicts the exile of Israel, because of the nation’s continued rebellion against God.

The second part of the Book of Isaiah (Chapters 40-55), which was likely authored by a follower of Isaiah, is filled with verses of comfort and hope. At this point in history, Babylon is now the power, with Judah handed over into the hands of the Babylonian rulers. The Book of Isaiah concludes (Chapters 56-66) with a collection of prophecies on various topics.

Here are the beautiful verses from Isaiah that we read last Sunday:

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and His train filled the temple. Above Him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth if full of His glory.”

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven.”

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (Isaiah 6: 1-8)

These verses offer so much hope. Throughout the chaos and uncertainty of every life, the saving grace of God is ever present. When we turn back to God and surrender our lives to His plans, we find indescribable mercy and joy.

We also find love and purpose.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins and our doubts. Forgive what we do and what we fail to do. Strengthen and help us today, Jesus, to see the majesty of God. Help us to slow down so that we may contemplate and understand His deep Love for us, and trust in the beautiful plans God has for our lives right now and here on earth. When God calls to us, please help us to joyfully and confidently respond as Isaiah does — Here I am! Send me!