Isaiah 61:1-3abcd
Chapter 61
1
Mission of the Prophet
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up broken hearts, to proclaim liberty to the captives, freedom to those languishing in prison;2
to announce the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God; to give comfort to all who grieve;
3
to comfort those who mourn in Zion and give them a garland instead of ashes, oil of gladness instead of mourning, and festal clothes instead of despair. They will be called oaks of integrity planted by the Lord to show his glory.
Commentaries
Mission of the Prophet.
Anointing in the Bible always signifies a mission. The Lord sends His anointed one to proclaim the year of grace. This year was meant to be observed every 50 years, marking the anniversary of freeing slaves, returning land to its original owners, and canceling debts. Poor peasants suffered from bad weather, famine, and opportunists, often ending up as slaves. The year of grace serves as a metaphor for the salvation and restoration that God will bring (cf. Lk 4:18-19).