Newsletter - 9 November
”The Fifth Gospel”
No, it was not written by one of Jesus’s followers but by the prophet Isaiah who lived more than 700 years before Jesus. The term “fifth Gospel” was coined to note how often Isaiah’s prophecies are either quoted or alluded to in the New Testament – quoted more than 60 times, 21 times in the four Gospels. By one estimate, about 90% of the verses in the New Testament speak to things found in the book of Isaiah.
Jesus himself knew and found inspiration in Isaiah. He began his mission by reading a passage from Isaiah (61:1-2) in the synagogue of his hometown, then announcing “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk 4:21).
From the beginning Christians read Isaiah prophecies as a foretelling of the coming of Christ. The four Gospels cite them to account for every aspect of Jesus life – his birth, ministry, death, and the promise of the new creation Jesus would bring about.
It is no surprise then, that Isaiah is read at Sunday Masses during Advent, as we ready ourselves for Jesus’ birth. Some of his words are engraved deeply in our hearts – “The Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, a young woman is with child and shall bear a son and call him Immanuel” (11:14).
Isaiah’s gospel or “good news” was not limited to foretelling the coming of the Messiah. His primary aim was to speak God’s word to his own people in difficult times. His prophecies were words of both judgement and promise, calling the people of Judea to repent and offering assurance that the Lord would not forget his promises and would fulfil them in the days to come.
Thus, Isaiah has much to tell us - not only about the coming of the Messiah but also how God speaks to us in our own troubling times. There are sober words of judgement calling us to repentance as well as words of hope that the Lord is about “to do a new thing” (43:19).
To better appreciate Isaiah’s prophecies, an online Bible Study will be offered in the parish over five Monday evenings (17 November to 15 December). We will explore the Mass readings from Isaiah for each Sunday of Advent as well as take a quick walk through the whole of the book. More information to follow.
I look forward to meeting with you again from far off Canada.
Deacon Ted Wood
Focus of the week
Online Advent Bible Study
Five Monday evenings on Zoom
17 November – 15 December
with Deacon Ted Wood
Please contact the Parish Office to register.
SAVE THE DATE
JO COLLINS & FRIENDS
A fundraising evening for the Parish
Saturday 6 December
8.00 pm
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