Isaiah, Chapter 60

Isaiah, Chapter 60

Question:

Through my journey back to my spiritual foundation, I have come across many of the same scriptures dropped in my spirit to read and meditate on. As I have grown spiritually and aligned with the word by being obedient, nearing the end of year this is the scripture which has returned to me.

Comment:

Chapter 60 of the Book of Isaiah is a long and complex affirmation that the former greatness of Jerusalem will be restored—and, indeed, that its future glory will be even greater than its past. As is true of much of the later chapters of Isaiah, it was initially directed to the Jews who had been captive in Babylon for a generation, and who had been given their freedom by Cyrus of Persia when his armies conquered Babylon. The prophet wants his people to leave the relative comfort of Babylon and return to their homeland. His vision is of a future city greater even than the one from which they had been led into captivity.   I can’t cover the entire chapter in one response, but I think the overall theme and spiritual message can easily be recognized just in its first four verses:   "Arise, shine, for your light has come; and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples, but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; you sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms" (Isaiah 60:1-4).   I think the important message here for us today is that things don’t have to be perfect in the world around us—or in our own mortal lives, for that matter—in order to recognize, experience and share the Christ Light that is our spiritual truth and purpose. Our light comes the instant we recognize its presence within us and choose to let it shine forth through our thoughts and choices. That innate light will draw to itself those who recognize its power and are open to its guidance.   It is, indeed, a wonderful awareness with which to begin a new year. We are the light. It is already present within us as the Christ of our being. Our job is simply to let the Christ Light shine through us, transforming the world around us—not through our manipulations, but simply through our presence.   Blessings!

Rev. Ed