January 16, 2005: “You are my servant . . .”

The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time


The prophet Isaiah has a striking conversation with God in our first reading today. After a long and frenzied life as a prophet, the Lord tells Isaiah, “You are my servant.” The Hebrew word for “servant” is ’ebed. Actually, a more precise translation would be that Isaiah was an indentured laborer for God. Once he paid off his debt, he would be released from service—almost like redeeming an item from a pawn shop.

Towards the beginning of the Book of Isaiah—in chapter 6, to be exact—God first called Isaiah to be a prophet. Isaiah had a spectacular vision, in which God’s angel touched his mouth with a burning coal from the fire and said, “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin is forgiven” (Isa. 6, 7). Overwhelmed, Isaiah volunteered to go out on a mission for God and to be His prophet (Isa. 6, 8–13).

How exactly can you pay back God for taking away your guilt and sin? Well, of course, you can’t. And if you can’t repay, the item remains with the pawn broker. So the plain meaning of ’ebed—servant—is really more like a slave.

How does that sound to you—“You are my slave”?

For most of us, that’s a loaded word that conjures up all kinds of terrible images. To enslave someone means to oppress him, to use him in a way that is degrading and opposed to human dignity. People stay enslaved through fear, intimidation and brute force. Slavery, then, would be about the absolute opposite of the merciful love we ought to associate with God.

But God evidently doesn’t have these negative meanings in mind when He calls Isaiah His slave or His servant—and Isaiah certainly doesn’t understand it that way either. Look at the rewards that Isaiah’s servitude has earned him. Isaiah first says, “I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord” (Isa. 49, 5)—in other words, I am honored in God’s eyes. Then he says, “God is now my strength” (Isa. 49, 5). And finally, God promises to make him a “light to the nations” (Isa. 49, 6)—a chosen instrument to bring holiness and blessings and salvation to people everywhere.

What a breathtaking compensation package! Hardly the evils we normally associate with slavery.

Now, here’s something very interesting. That Hebrew word ’ebed that we’ve been talking about: if you were to translate it into Greek, the language of the New Testament, it would be doulos in the masculine form. The feminine is doulé—the very word St. Luke says that Our Blessed Mother Mary spoke when she said, “Behold the handmaid [doulé] of the Lord” (Luke 2:38).

Yes, Mary called herself the slave of God. And just the way Isaiah said, “I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord,” Our Lady said, “All generations will call me blessed” (Lk 2, 48).

Isaiah said, “God is my strength”; Mary said, “The Almighty has done great things for me” (Lk 2, 49).

Isaiah is told he’ll be a “light to the nations”; Mary says that God “has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. . . to Abraham and his children for ever” (Lk 2, 50. 55).

So it seems pretty clear that this slavery or servitude that we hear about is not at all a repulsive or evil thing. In fact, to be a servant of God is a great blessing!

Scripture is filled with references encouraging this kind of holy service—between husbands and wives (Eph. 5, 22–25), children and parents (Col. 3:20–21) . . . and in fact, all people to go out and serve one another: neighbors, the poor, and even your enemies! Those of us who, please God, do it well in this life, might conceivably be recognized as a “Servant of God”—a beautiful designation for some happy souls on the road to sainthood.

One of the glorious titles of the Pope is Servus Servorum Dei—a servant of the servants of God. In other words, the Holy Father willingly enslaves himself to the service of all of humanity.

And of course, the perfect model of voluntary, loving slavery is Jesus Christ, who gave totally of Himself that we—you and I and all mankind—might have eternal life in heaven.

The challenge for us as Catholics is this: how do we translate this idea of being a voluntary servant from a nice, pious thought into a concrete reality? How do I become a slave to my brothers and sisters out of love for God?

There are almost as many ways as there are people! We’re each a unique creation with wonderful gifts. What do you do best? What do you like to do? How can you use your gifts to help others? Can you sing, cook, sew, arrange flowers, teach, fix things? Do you tell good stories or do folks say you’re a sympathetic listener? Use these gifts!

Sometimes you’ll meet a pessimistic person who says, “I don’t really have any special talents.” Hmmm… If you think that’s you, then I’d suggest that your greatest ability is simply your availability. Availability means that you are prepared and ready to serve God when He calls you and inspires you. Don’t assume that God can’t use you because you don’t have great abilities or special talents. He can and He will! God never asks about our ability, only about our availability. That’s why Jesus teaches us that it can be a tremendous act of loving service to give a thirsty man a cold cup of water. Who can’t do that?

If you want a list of ways to serve, dig out your old copy of the Baltimore Catechism and look up the chief corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The corporal works of mercy are (1) to feed the hungry, (2) to give drink to the thirsty, (3) to clothe the naked, (4) to visit the imprisoned, (5) to shelter the homeless, (6) to visit the sick, and (7) to bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are (1) to admonish the sinner, (2) to instruct the ignorant, (3) to counsel the doubtful, (4) to comfort the sorrowful, (5) to bear wrongs patiently, (6) to forgive all injuries, and ( 7) to pray for the living and the dead.

If you concentrated on just one different work of love each month, you’d have more than enough to fill an entire year!

When the Lord appeared to the great prophet, Isaiah, He said, “You are my servant.” Today, the Lord says the very same words to you. Like Isaiah, like Mary—say “Yes, Lord. I am your servant.” Let the meaning of loving service grow in your heart, then go out and serve without counting the cost.

I promise you, God will bless you richly.



Today’s Readings:
Isaiah 49, 3–6
Psalm 40
1 Corinthians 1, 1–3
John 1, 29–34