Similar Reflections

"Hear me O coastland, listen O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, from my mother's womb He gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of His arm. He makes me a polished arrow, in His quiver He hid me. You are my servant, He said to me, Israel, through whom I show My glory. Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with my God. For now the Lord has spoken Who formed me as His servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to Him and Israel gathered to Him; and I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer and the Holy One of Israel, to the one despised, whom the nations abhor, the slave of rulers. When kings see you, they shall stand up, and princes shall prostrate themselves because of the Lord Who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel Who has chosen you. Thus says the Lord: In a time of favor I answered you, on the day of salvation I helped you, to restore the land and allot the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness: Show yourselves! Along the ways they shall find pasture, on every bare height shall their pastures be. They shall not hunger or thirst nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them; for He who pities them leads them and guides them beside springs of water." (Isaiah 49:1-10)