Patristic Wisdom: Looking to the Second Sunday after Epiphany

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until My righteousness goes forth as light, and My salvation burns like a lamp. The Gentiles will see your righteousness, and kings your glory; and one will call you by your new name, which the Lord shall name. You shall also be a crown of beauty in the Lord’s hand, and the diadem of a kingdom in the hand of your God. You shall no longer be called Forsaken, and your land shall not be called Desert; for you shall be called My Will, and in your land, the Inhabited Earth. As a young man lives in wedlock with a virgin, so shall your sons dwell with you, and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so the Lord shall rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:1–5 LXX)

Christ appeared to those on earth as righteousness and as salvation. He makes righteous and he saves, being himself the true light, a torch in the darkness as it were. He himself said, As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. Everything had remained in mist and darkness. The devil had darkened the hearts of all, and there was no one who does good or knows righteousness, that is, the way to salvation. No one possessed the light from above that enlightens the mind, nor was anyone able to perceive with the eyes of understanding the true nature of God, who is Creator and Lord of all. However, after the Savior rose like a light and a torch, the world was illuminated and through Him we have seen the way of salvation.

Then the prophet speaks to the Church that was gathered from the company of the Jews. The multitude of the Gentiles had not yet been drawn in. Nations shall see your righteousness, and kings your glory. The righteousness mentioned in this verse, as well as the glory, is nothing else than our Lord Jesus the Christ. We have been justified in Him, and we have been enriched by His glory. We have become His, and we are called His chosen ones. We have been placed under His yoke and scepter and delivered from the cruel tyranny of the one who ruled us.

Because Zion no longer worships God according to the law and has embraced the new life according to the gospel, she casts off her old name and has been given a new name that befits the God of all, as is indicated in the words: He shall call you by your name, which the Lord will name. No longer will she be called synagogue but Church of the living God, His city and His house. The inspired David was thinking of her when he said, Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God.

Isaiah teaches that the Church will shine with splendor and be crowned with incomparable beauty. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Every soul will be holy, together with the whole Church, and the ranks of the saints will be like a crown woven from many flowers or a royal tiara shining with stones from India and sparkling with splendor. For the deeds of the saints are valorous and many; like different ornaments they are not all alike but varied. Thus, the inspired David describes the Church of Christ clothed in a many-colored garment. The prophet also adds that the crown of beauty is in the hand of the Lord, that is, I will hide you in the shadow of my hand.

Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Isaiah 5.5.62