The 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time | Sunday 22 October 2023

Today is Sunday the 22nd of October, beginning the 29th week of Ordinary time.

Tenebrae, directed by Nigel Short, sing the Canticle of Simeon, from Rachmaninov’s Vespers: “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples”. As I listen, can I become aware that I am in God’s presence now, that I too am God’s servant, called by God, commissioned by God, entrusted to do God’s work?


Nyne otpushchayeshi raba Tvoego, Vladyko, po glagolu Tvoyemu s mirom:
yako videsta ochi moi spaseniye Tvoye, ezhe esi ugotoval pred litsem vsekh lyudei,
svet vo otkrovenie yazykov, i slavu lyudei Tvoikh Izrailya.
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy Word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people.
A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people, Israel.




Today’s reading is from the Prophet Isaiah.


Isaiah 45:1,4-6

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped
to subdue nations before him
and strip kings of their robes,
to open doors before him—
and the gates shall not be closed:
For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I surname you, though you do not know me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
besides me there is no god.
I arm you, though you do not know me,
so that they may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is no one besides me;
I am the Lord, and there is no other.

Cyrus, a mighty ruler used by God; an ‘outsider’; a political and military genius, who rescued the Jewish people from captivity by the Babylonians; whom God tasked with the rebuilding of Jerusalem; who introduced the idea of tolerance; who embraced minorities; who was not one of the ‘faithful few’.


In today’s reading we hear God directly addressing this leader whom he has chosen. Can you sense the depth of honour that God has for Cyrus? God calls Cyrus “his anointed”. God has “grasped his right hand”. Can you imagine what that might feel like?


Cyrus is to “open doors”. On a much more down-to-earth level, but equally God-inspired: is there a door God wants you to open that might help someone else?


Listen to the passage again and allow these words from God to draw you in. What stirs in you?


As this prayer time draws to a close, speak with God, the very God who appointed the emperor Cyrus, God who has a task for you as well.


Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.