εὐαγγελίζω (euaggelizo)
“to announce the Good News of victory in battle”
“to announce the Good News of victory in battle”
“Go up on to a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings (בָּשַׂר basar);
cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news (בָּשַׂר basar)!
Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD,
who rules by a strong arm; here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.”
cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news (בָּשַׂר basar)!
Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD,
who rules by a strong arm; here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.”
θεωρέω (theoreo)
(“to perceive, discover, ponder a deeper meaning”)
(“to perceive, discover, ponder a deeper meaning”)
Have you ever greeted someone with “glad tidings” or a person offered you the same in return? The question would be the same if “glad tidings” was substituted by the word gospel. Many Christians tend to think the word gospel is unique to the Christian experience bearing the names Mark, Matthew, Luke and John. Historically, the English word that comes to us as gospel has a rich foundation in the cultures of the Ancient Near East as well as the Persian and Greek military empires. In the pages of the Old Testament, glad tidings (בָּשַׂר basar) is often associated with war, notably victory. The victor and citizens sing the “glad tidings” of a new way of living that the victory has effected. More specifically, numerous uses of glad tidings (בָּשַׂר basar) in the Old Testament focus on David as victor in battle or protector from the enemies of Israel. Accounts of victorious battles or protection from enemies were often couched in the language of glad tidings (בָּשַׂר basar).
After the time of Alexander the Great when a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures occurred (a text known as the Septuagint and commonly abbreviated by the Roman numeral LXX (70) because it is believed that 70 elders were involved in the production of the Greek translation) “to bring glad tidings (בָּשַׂר basar)” was translated εὐαγγελίζω (euaggelizo, gospel) “To announce good news” in the Persian-Greek era was to announce victory over one’s enemy or enemies. In time, the use of euaggelizo (good news, gospel) appeared to be somewhat restricted to news of victory concluding a war. While there were (and still are!) many events that constitute “good news,” Alexander’s time opted for a more restrictive identity of “good news” linked to a victorious end of a war or military campaign.
Prior to Alexander the Great and still within the Tradition of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Prophet of Hope made use of “glad tidings” (בָּשַׂר basar), especially in the chapters 40 through 65. In the Isaian text proclaimed at Mass today, “glad tidings (בָּשַׂר basar)” was news intimately linked to freedom from captivity, a freedom that resulted by the transformation (not annihilation) of obstacles. “Go up on to a high mountain, Zion, herald of “glad tidings” (בָּשַׂר בָּשַׂר basar); cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of “good news” (בָּשַׂר basar)! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care (Isaiah 40:9-11).”
After the time of Alexander the Great when a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures occurred (a text known as the Septuagint and commonly abbreviated by the Roman numeral LXX (70) because it is believed that 70 elders were involved in the production of the Greek translation) “to bring glad tidings (בָּשַׂר basar)” was translated εὐαγγελίζω (euaggelizo, gospel) “To announce good news” in the Persian-Greek era was to announce victory over one’s enemy or enemies. In time, the use of euaggelizo (good news, gospel) appeared to be somewhat restricted to news of victory concluding a war. While there were (and still are!) many events that constitute “good news,” Alexander’s time opted for a more restrictive identity of “good news” linked to a victorious end of a war or military campaign.
True to his time and culture, while Isaiah employed familiar military language - for example, “power,” and “rules by his strong arm” — victory has a twist: the ‘good news’ of feeding, carrying and leading. These actions are at the heart of living, especially in and on a land often hostile to life. These actions became concrete images in the Old Testament describing the experience of salvation (In Hebrew, yesha [a word sharing the same Hebrew root of the Holy Name, Jesus!]). Salvation (yesha) in the context of the Old Testament is about living on a land that is broad and wide, not hemmed in by a tight space. On this broad and wide land entrusted to one as gift, one has sufficient resources for a family to live: sufficient drinking water for family, livestock and crops. One has sufficient food for family and herd. Sufficient clothing and housing offers protection from nature (a scorching sun by day and surprisingly cold nights) and criminals. For Isaiah this was all experienced as pure and complete gift from a Providential God of Love.
For Isaiah, this proclamation of “glad tidings” (בָּשַׂר basar) is an act of creation. It brings into existence and establishes order and harmony that did not exist prior to the proclamation. “Glad tidings” (בָּשַׂר basar) is power that transforms even the most colossal obstacle into a vehicle of life and love because one has been anointed. The concrete image of an abundant ‘rubbing oil into’ (think of the anointings that occur in Baptism and Confimration) equips the recipient with the power necessary to call being into existence. That is truly the work of Messiah whose root in Hebrew is means “anointed.” The Messiah whose birth and baptism we celebrate reminds us that we too have been anointed for mission through Baptism and Confirmation. Following the initiative of and working with the Holy Spirit, we model John the Baptist in speaking a word to burn complacency from our midst as the glad tidings of Divine Love are breathed into a waiting world and longing hearts.
For Isaiah, this proclamation of “glad tidings” (בָּשַׂר basar) is an act of creation. It brings into existence and establishes order and harmony that did not exist prior to the proclamation. “Glad tidings” (בָּשַׂר basar) is power that transforms even the most colossal obstacle into a vehicle of life and love because one has been anointed. The concrete image of an abundant ‘rubbing oil into’ (think of the anointings that occur in Baptism and Confimration) equips the recipient with the power necessary to call being into existence. That is truly the work of Messiah whose root in Hebrew is means “anointed.” The Messiah whose birth and baptism we celebrate reminds us that we too have been anointed for mission through Baptism and Confirmation. Following the initiative of and working with the Holy Spirit, we model John the Baptist in speaking a word to burn complacency from our midst as the glad tidings of Divine Love are breathed into a waiting world and longing hearts.
Preface of the Baptism of the Lord
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
For in the waters of the Jordan
You revealed with signs and wonders a new Baptism,
so that through the Voice that came down from heaven
we might come to believe in Your Word dwelling among us,
and by the spirit’s descending in the likeness of a dove
we might know that Christ Your Servant
has been anointed with the oil of gladness
and sent to bring the good news to the poor.
And so, with the Powers of heaven,
we worship you constantly on earth,
and before your majesty
without end we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
For in the waters of the Jordan
You revealed with signs and wonders a new Baptism,
so that through the Voice that came down from heaven
we might come to believe in Your Word dwelling among us,
and by the spirit’s descending in the likeness of a dove
we might know that Christ Your Servant
has been anointed with the oil of gladness
and sent to bring the good news to the poor.
And so, with the Powers of heaven,
we worship you constantly on earth,
and before your majesty
without end we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…
Collect
Almighty ever-living God,
Who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan
and as the Holy Spirit descended upon Him,
solemnly declared Him your Beloved Son,
grant that Your children by adoption,
reborn of water and the Holy Spirit,
may always be well pleasing to You.
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.
Who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan
and as the Holy Spirit descended upon Him,
solemnly declared Him your Beloved Son,
grant that Your children by adoption,
reborn of water and the Holy Spirit,
may always be well pleasing to You.
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