“We have all become like something unclean, all our just deeds are like polluted rags; we have all withered like leaves, and our crimes carry us away like the wind.” (Isaiah 64:5)
Saint Gregory the Great offers the following insight on this verse from today’s First Reading:
“Here is what Isaiah deeply deplored by saying, “We all have fallen like leaves, and our sins have carried us off like the wind.” But the righteous are able, through innocence they have received, to ward off the charges of the present accusation, but they are not strong enough in their own strength to drive out the bonds of death that result. The Redeemer of the human race, who became the mediator of God and humanity through the flesh alone showed himself righteous among people, yet he received the punishment of blame without blame. He convicted humanity lest it get worse and stood before God lest he smite; he offered examples of innocence and took the punishment for evil.” (Morals on the Book of Job, 9)
Collect
Grant Your faithful, we pray, Almighty God,
the resolve to run forth to meet Your Christ
with righteous deeds at His coming,
so that, gathered at His right hand,
they may be worthy
to possess the heavenly Kingdom.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
the resolve to run forth to meet Your Christ
with righteous deeds at His coming,
so that, gathered at His right hand,
they may be worthy
to possess the heavenly Kingdom.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
