Fear Not 220

Beloved brethren assembled in the sacred assembly, hearken to the prophet Isaiah in chapter 51 verse 11 declaring that the redeemed shall return with singing unto Zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads as they obtain joy and gladness while sorrow and mourning flee away. In its historical context this oracle comforted the exiles in Babylon foretelling their liberation under Cyrus as a type of the greater spiritual exodus from sin wrought by Christ our Redeemer. The Early Church Fathers richly expound this mystery with St Jerome in his Commentary on Isaiah noting the literal return from captivity yet unveiling the allegorical sense of the soul restored to paradise through baptismal grace. Origen likewise in his homilies on the prophets as gathered in patristic catenae interprets the joy upon their heads as the crown of righteousness reserved for those who endure persecution without fear. St Augustine in the City of God and Enarrations upon the Psalms teaches that this gladness is the eternal Sabbath of the saints where perfect charity casts out all fear of death or loss fulfilling the promise that mourning shall flee. St John Chrysostom in parallel discourses on divine consolation exhorts the faithful that such joy is obtained not by earthly ease but by the cross transforming sorrow into resurrection gladness as witnessed by the myrrh-bearing women. In the age of martyrs under Diocletian and Nero the church obtained this joy as Tertullian attests in his Apology the blood of the martyrs becoming seed for countless conversions crowned with everlasting laurels. St Basil and St Cyprian likewise affirm that the early assemblies chanted these Isaian verses amid catacombs dispelling dread through hope in the risen Lord. Thus O faithful let us not fear the trials of our pilgrimage for the Lord shall place everlasting joy upon our heads as sorrow flees before the dawn of eternal gladness. #FearNot220 #FearNotUNPLUGGED #162of220 #Catholic