In the first reading at Mass today, Isaiah had a vision of the Lord, “… seated on a high and lofty throne.” His reaction was to recognize his sinfulness: “… I am a man of unclean lips.. yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” God responded by sending an angel to take an ember from the altar with tongs and touch Isaiah’s lips, telling him “…your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.” (Is 6:1-7)
This powerful image is pictured in the Isaiah window in the church. The tongs holding the glowing ember are at the very bottom of the window, below the scroll bearing Isaiah’s name. This window is high on the right side of the nave, the window closest to the front as you face the altar.
The rest of the window depicts Isaiah’s fulfillment of the mission which God gave him: Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ ‘Here I am,’ I said, ‘send me!'”(Is 6:8) We hear the prophecies of Isaiah read during Advent as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and also during Lent and Holy Week.
The window illustrates the Advent prophesy, “…A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse…” (Is 11:1) He prophesied that the coming Messiah would be the fulfillment of the Kings of Israel, whose dominion had been broken as they were led into captivity, along with the Jewish people, because of their sinfulness and unfaithfulness to God. Isaiah is standing upon a dead king and Jesus is seen as the flowering of the shoot sprouting from the stump of the Jewish monarchy. That God was with Isaiah in this radical prophesy is expressed by the presence of the Holy Spirit over Isaiah’s right shoulder.
The idea of being sent to proclaim God’s Word runs through all of today’s readings. In the Gospel, Jesus got into Peter’s boat, taught the people and then told Peter to put out into the deep and cast his net, in spite of the fact that Peter had fished all night and caught nothing. As he experienced the enormous catch of fish that resulted, Peter reacted , just as Isaiah had saying, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” (Lk 5:9)
How often when we sense God calling us to something, asking us to try something new, do we respond the same way? I am not worthy; I am a sinner; I don’t know what to say; I have my limitations; I have already tried; I am weak; I am afraid. In those moments of turning away, may we take the risk of going deeper into the life with Himself to which Jesus calls us. May we have faith that he can heal us and cleanse us as He did Isaiah. May we trust that he says to us, “Do not be afraid…” as he said to Peter. (Lk 5:11) May we ask God help us reply, “Here I am, send me!”