Friday, October 9, 2020

Patristic Wisdom: Looking to the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Then the Lord of hosts shall do this to all the nations on this mountain. They shall drink in gladness; they shall drink wine; they shall anoint themselves with ointment on this mountain. Deliver all these things to the nations, for this is the counsel for all the nations. Death prevailed and swallowed them, but again God wiped away every tear from every face; He took away the disgrace of His people from all the earth; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Then it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God, in whom we hoped and rejoiced exceedingly; and we shall be glad in His salvation.” (Isaiah 25:6–9)

Having said that the Lord will reign in Zion and Jerusalem, Isaiah leads us to the mystical meaning of the passage. Thus Zion is interpreted as a high place that is good for surveillance, and Jerusalem is the vision of the world. In fact, the church of Christ combines both: it is high and visible from everywhere, and is, so to speak, located on the mountain. The church may be understood as high also in another way: there is nothing low in it, it is far removed from all the mundane things, as it is written, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Equally elevated are its orthodox and divine doctrines; thus the doctrine about God or about the holy and consubstantial Trinity is true, pure and without guile. “The Lord of hosts will make for all people,” not just for the Israelites elected for the sake of their patriarchs but for all the people of the world. What will He make? “A feast of wines on the lees; they will drink joy, they will drink wine. They will be anointed with myrrh on the mountain.” This joy, of course, means the joy of hope, of the hope rooted in Christ, because we will reign with Him, and with Him we will enjoy every spiritual joy and pleasure that surpasses mind and understanding.

Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Isaiah 25.6–7

And, in that day, when death has been swallowed up at the time of the resurrection, the children of the new age will sing a song of thanksgiving, seeing their own Savior in glory. And they will say: “Lo, our God, in whom we were hoping.” For we used to have hope in Him, believing in the divine teachings concerning Him, and in this way we were able to endure the painful trials that came on us, but now we see Him with our eyes. And, indeed, they will say these things, and He will give rest to them in the aforementioned mountain of His kingdom. And they will indeed enjoy the benefits of those good things which have been promised.

Eusebius of Caesarea, Commentary on Isaiah 25

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