A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS God extended a general invitation to enjoy the free salvation, proclaiming the commitment of man to respond practically to that invitation. Now God is presenting His Church, as a house, open for all nations. Nobody should consider himself a foreigner, namely a descendant of pagan worshippers, but as chosen for the service and worship of the Lord; and nobody should count himself a eunuch, namely a dry tree, but a pillar in the house of the Lord. God has no favoritism. He opens His house before all; foreigners who receive faith will come to Him, while those who got the law and prophecies, then denied Him, will be deprived of Him. 1. A house of prayer for all nations 1-8. 2. Rejection of deniers of faith 9-12. 1. A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS In the previous chapter the invitation was for all the thirsty (Is. 55: 1); for the Jews and the Gentiles, for the thirsty and the hungry; for the blind and the deaf, etc. to quench their thirst from the fountains of the gospel of free salvation, and from the gift of the Spirit presented to the Church of the New Testament. Now, fearing that someone may abstain, counting himself a foreigner, having been born to a pagan family that used to deny faith, or because he is a eunuch by nature, namely a dry tree, He is encouraging everyone to enter through the wide gates of God’s mercy. a. God’s salvation is close at hand: “My salvation is about to come and My righteousness to be revealed.” (Is. 56: 1) At that Time only seven centuries remained until the coming of the Lord Christ, Savior of the world. But a thousand years in God’s sight are like one day (Psalm 90: 4). However, what’s more important is that the Lord’s Salvation is near every one of us, the word is within the heart, and the cross of the Lord could be proclaimed in every soul. And as St. Augustine says, [Foolishly, I was seeking You outside. When actually You were deep inside, deeper than my depth, and higher than my height.] The road to our salvation is deep inside us, as we are given the Holy Spirit of God, and the fellowship in the body of the Lord Christ, through Baptism... becoming a dwelling place and a temple of God. That is why the apostle says, “The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart.” (Romans 10: 8) When St. Ephram the Syrian speaks about the birth of Jesus the Lord of glory, he draws our attention toward our inner man, where the Lord came to dwell in our hearts through faith (Ephesians 3: 17). Let every man adorn the doors of his heart in this feast, as the Holy Spirit yearns to enter and to dwell in the heart to sanctify it. He’s searching all around to seek where to enter. Let the doors of the heart in this feast rejoice together with those of the Church, in order that the Holy Lord rejoices in His Holy temple, the babes’ mouths rejoice in 7 praise, and the Mighty Christ rejoices in His feast1. St. Ephram the Syrian b. “Keep rejoice, and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come, and My righteousness to be revealed.” (Is. 56: 1) By saying that He reveals the concept of virtue. We are committed to maintain justice and to do what is right; namely to keep the divine commandment, which is justice and right. These are a difficult task, or let us say an impossible one, according to human nature in itself. Yet, if salvation and Christ’s righteousness are proclaimed in the heart, the commandment becomes easy and possible, even natural and sweet; as it is God, dwelling and working with His Holy Spirit in us, who consummate it. Virtue, according to St. John Cassian: [is that through which we present the kingdom of the heart to Christ2.] We deliver our heart to Him, to work in it, to transform us into His likeness and image. Origen says that we are created according to Christ’s image; that is why virtues, in his opinion, is for us to become one with Him. It is He Himself, who is the virtues we possess3. He is Justice, Wisdom, and Truth at the same time. That is why, he, who truly practices these virtues, will be a true partaker of the divine nature4. St. Gregory of Nazianzus says, [Being Love and Peace, God, through these names, persuades us to shape ourselves according to these virtues, that are His features5.] Virtue is the work of God in His believers, the receivers of His invitation, and the responsives to His love: Don’t you notice that there is nothing we do without Christ?6 That we cannot walk along the way of God, unless we are carried over the wings of the Spirit7. That there is no one stronger than him who enjoys the heavenly help; and no one weaker than him who is deprived of it8. St. John Chrysostom God is Holy, and makes holy; Righteous, and makes righteous9. St. Augustine c. This divine gift is free, yet is not granted against will or to idles, but to those responsive: “Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it, who keep from defiling the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” (Is. 56: 2) 1 Hymns on Nativity 4. 2 Collationes 1:13. 3 Fragm. In Joan 1X. 4 See Henri Crouzel: Théologie de I’image de Dieu chez Origène. Paris 1956, p. 239 ff. {See T. Spidik: The Spirituality of the Christian East, p. 291}. 5 Carminum Liber 1.11.9, r 19ff; PG. 37:668. {See T. Spidik, p. 291}. 6 In Eph. Hom 1. 7 In Matt., In Gen. PG. 57:30; 53:228. 8 In Paralyt. PG. 51:51. 9 City of God 17:4. 8 If God has granted us His resurrection or risen life, “a Sabbath,” namely a rest for our souls, it is fitting for us to live this life and keep it, and not to live the corruption of death; to keep our hand from doing any evil, so as not to submit to the death of sin, but to be in the Lord, our true Sabbath. Our true Sabbath is our Lord Jesus, the Victim and the Risen from the dead; in whom the Father finds His rest (His Sabbath), as far as we are concerned, as in Him we are justified and counted as His children; and in Him we find our rest, finding in Him a place in the Father’s bosom. We, personally, would turn into the seventh day (a Sabbath), when we become filled with God’s blessings and holiness1. St. Augustine d. Transforming foreigners into children of the house of the Lord: “Do not let the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, ‘The Lord has utterly separated me from His people.’” (Is. 56: 3) They will enjoy God’s covenant, the right to worship and to serve the Lord’s house. “Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants... everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and who holds fast My covenant.” (Is. 56: 6) What does it mean, to receive foreigners as children of the Lord’s house, and to hold fast His covenant? It is the enjoyment of unity with the Lord Christ, to enter into heavenly sanctuaries without hindrance, as children sanctified in Him, and as members of His body, who have the right to be united with the Father by the Holy Spirit, through the blood of the covenant, the atoning blood of the Lord Christ. Opening the door of salvation before foreigners to become children of God, who have the right of worship and ministry, provide hope to all; and as St. Hippolytus says, [The ‘Word’ shows His compassion together with impartiality... He loves to instruct the ignorant, and to put him who is at fault, back on the right track. So easily, those who live in faith, who have the pure eye and the holy heart, will found him; those who wish to knock on the door He will open promptly. He would never dismiss any of His ministers, as unworthy of the divine sacraments. He would never prefer the rich to the poor; and would never despise the poor because of his poverty. He doesn’t despise the barbarian, and would never reject a eunuch as though he is not a real man (Is. 56: 3, 4). He would never hate females on account of their initial rebellion (Eve); nor reject a male, on account of his disobedience of the man (Adam). He seeks all, and wishes for the salvation of all, yearns to turn all into children of God, calling all saints as one perfect man2.] e. He grants children to the eunuch: “Let no eunuch say, ‘Her I am, a dry tree.’” (Is. 56: 3) Eunuchs were not allowed into priesthood (Leviticus 21: 20), or to partake of 1 City of God, 22:30. 2 Treat. On Christ and Antichrist, 3. 9 feasts (Deuteronomy 23: 1). Now, as the gates of God’s mercies have been wide open, there are no more spiritual eunuchs in the Church, “None is barren among them” (Song 4: 2)... All witness to God, and bear Him children. Our encounter with the Lord does not stop at our right to enter His house, and enjoy His covenant, but grants us the strength to witness to Him, and have fruitfulness. God promised His people if they obey: “You shall be blessed above all people; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock.” (Deuteronomy 7: 14) f. He would make of believers heroes, everlastingly memorable, even in heaven: “To them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name; better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.” (Is. 56: 5) How amazing! The Lord came to us incarnate, to die on our land, then rose to lift us up to His heavenly house, to become everlasting, not even death can destroy us; to have our names eternally inscribed in God’s book, and on the palm of His hand. The mystery of the eternity of our names in the heavenly divine house is our union with the Lord Christ, our being the living stones set on the chief Cornerstone: “As living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” (1 Peter 2: 5, 6) g. Enjoyment of worship, joyful to us, and pleasurable to the Lord: “Even them I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Is. 56: 7) What does this mean, but our enjoyment of worship, not as a formal commitment, or mere appearances, but as a joyful exaltation on the holy mountain of the Lord, and joy in His heavenly house; as a house of prayer, where we present our life a burnt offering of love, and a holy sacrifice in union with that of the Holy Christ; through which we rejoice, and be acceptable to the Father, because it bears the fragrance of Christ of whom God rejoices. Tertullian says, [This sacrifice comes out of every heart, nourishes on faith, and keeps truth; enters in innocence and purity, adorned with love. We should guard it with the greatness of good deeds; presenting psalms and praises on the altar of God, to earn everything from Him1.] h. Opening of the house of the Lord before all nations, including the exiled Israelite. Exiles here probably mean as well, the return of the fallen among Christians (the New Israel). The gates of the house of the Lord are open to all, even to those believers who have fallen or gone astray, who were rejected by some heretics. St. Cyprian authored two magnificent books dealing with this issue, under the title “Repentance.” Thus, this chapter presents us with a living portrait of the Church of the New Testament. It is a house of prayer, where people encounter, and have living fellowship with God who is close at hand, dwelling in us (Is. 56: 1). It is the dwelling place of Truth and Justice, as long as we unite with our righteous Christ, who justifies the 1 On Prayer, 28. 10 sinners, offers Himself to them as Truth, Justice, righteousness, and Love (Is. 56: 1). A feature of this house is sanctification of the freewill; its gates being open before all, with no exception, nor obligation or commitment (Is. 56: 2, 3); whoever enters it is no longer a foreigner, but becomes of the household of the Lord; but who prefers to stay outside, will not be forced to get in. Inside that house, all will be like fruitful trees that know no dryness (Is. 56: 3), as it is the house of the Lord and his fruitful paradise. Whoever dwells in it, lives eternally with his Savior in His glories, to have his name inscribed in heaven, and a memorial that cannot be destroyed (Is. 5: 5). Within, there are an everlasting undisturbed joy, and a holy, exalted, angelic worship (Is. 56: 7). Lastly, it is the house of mercy; whoever is outside it will still have the gates always open before him; the Lord’s bosom will always be waiting for his return. 2. REJECTION OF THE DENIERS OF FAITH If the house of the Lord is open before all, even to fallen believers, whatever their fall is, yet, re-entering it has to be through “repentance.” Who remains in his denial, would stay outside, prone to attacks of wild beasts in the outer wilderness, he chooses for himself. The prophet looks at those deniers of faith, to see their watchmen all blind, with no spiritual knowledge (Is. 56: 10). Deprived of the grace of the Holy Spirit the Grantor of enlightenment, they turned into mute dogs that cannot bark; unable of uttering even a word of edification for the sake of salvation of their flock; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep (Is. 56: 10). Their shepherds are like dogs that eat but do not bark; all turn to their own way, each seek his own gain that is, they are greedy and do not comprehend the pastoral self-giving love (Is. 56: 11). They get drunk, and have fun, even invite others to join them, thinking that their wasteful life would not only last, but would even get better (Is. 56: 12). This is a picture of Pastoral care void of true Divine Love. While God, at the beginning of this chapter, opens His spiritual house before all nations with no discrimination, inviting foreigners to approach and unite with Him, to gain fellowship of His eternal glories, and seeking even the fallen to return and enjoy His love, yet He is faced with selfishness of some shepherds who confined themselves in their shell of “ego,” to close the gates of God’s mercy before people, seeking what is for their temporary gain, on the expense of the salvation of others.
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