Isaiah 61:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Hence, Solomon declared, "The wealth acquired through injustice will be taken away, and the Angel will remove it from his temple," and furthermore, "They will multiply their ill-gotten gains, but the profits will be left to him who loves the needy" (Proverbs 28:8; Job 20:15). This signifies that these gains will not be awarded to the truly good and righteous but rather to those who indulge in vice, whom, out of courtesy, he referred to as those who love the poor. This is because among those who live debauched lives, there are many landholders who, alongside them, labor extensively to squander what has been wrongfully accumulated. The divine David laments this reality, proclaiming, "Both of them are wasted; he hoards, not knowing who will gather it" (Psalm 39:7). Similarly, the efforts and concerns of the scribes and Pharisees will be handed over to others, specifically to teachers from amongst the Gentiles. Therefore, Christ proclaims, "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation producing its fruits" (Matthew 21:43). Thus, they will be rejected, while with you, He states, who have been called from among the Gentiles to serve as priests, I shall establish an everlasting covenant, which refers either to the proclamation of the gospel or to eternal hope. He asserts that their descendants will be recognized among the Gentiles: everyone who sees Me will acknowledge that these are the blessed offspring of God, for those who, by teaching, are the children of the sacred mystery bearers are widely known for their virtuous actions and devout lives, since through instruction, as I have noted, they have become heirs to the saints. These are the blessed progeny of God, akin to the gatherings of holy monks, of whom Paul states, "Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24), leading lives of piety and diligence. They are indeed the blessed seed of God, rejoicing and celebrating in the Lord; for they do not seek worldly possessions, but instead fill their hearts with love for Christ; and this is a redemptive endeavor, the source of all spiritual joy.

He will forge an everlasting covenant, not the one given to Moses which has now been rendered obsolete, but the new covenant of the gospel, as Christ declared, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matt. 24:35). At that time, the apostolic lineage will be recognized among the nations, and all future tribes will embrace the seed of God's doctrine, no longer echoing what the people of the circumcision stated previously: "For what else but seed does God seek?" Anyone who observes them will instantly understand that they are the blessed offspring of the Lord. For who, by their conduct, characterized by humility, self-control, hospitality, and all virtues, would fail to identify the people of God? And conversely, who would not recoil from the violent acts of Israel, concerning whom the prophet intercedes, saying, "Fulfil the face of their dishonour, O Lord" (Psalm 82:17).

The parimia mentioned earlier is designated for reading on Great Saturday, the day commemorating Christ’s time in the tomb, as it reflects the victory of the Gospel, the increase of believers, and it is closely connected to the Savior’s death, fulfilling His proclamation: "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself" (John 12:24, 32). This passage is also read during the Church's New Year celebration on September 1 at Vespers since it foretells the arrival of the Lord’s pleasant summer. With the onset of each new year, God's compassion is renewed, serving as a fresh reminder that the Lord grants us time for repentance, ushering in a new season of life. Each year, the Lord invites us: "Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." The Gospel reading during the thanksgiving service for the civil new year (Luke 4:15-29), which includes Isaiah's prophetic messages about the Lord's pleasant summer, is drawn from the same part of the Prophet’s writings featured in the aforementioned parimia, retaining significant meaning for us.