The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion – to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
ISAIAH 63:1-13
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.
ISAIAH 9:2
I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by the paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do and I will not forsake them.
ISAIAH 42:16
Come, Lord Jesus
our light and our salvation.
Let us walk in the light
of the Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus
our light and our salvation
Let us walk in the light
of the Lord.
WORDS OF
ASSURANCE
Don’t be afraid.
Dear Zion, Don’t despair.
Your God is present among you,
A strong Warrior is there to save you.
Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love
and delight you with his songs.
The accumulated sorrows of your exile will dissipate.
I, your God, will get rid of them for you.
You’ve carried those burdens long enough.
At the same time, I’ll get rid of all those who’ve made your life miserable.
I’ll heal the maimed; I’ll bring home the homeless.
In the very countries where they were hated, they will be venerated.
On Judgment Day, I’ll bring you back home—a great family gathering!
You’ll be famous and honored all over the world.
You’ll see it with your own eyes—
All those painful partings turned into reunions!
God’s Promise.
Maranatha, Amen.