The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1-3
I like to visualize Jesus of Nazareth reading this passage in the synagogue at the beginning of his ministry. That the prescribed reading for the day just happened to be these words in Isaiah gives new meaning to the foresight of God. This year I have reflected how Jesus came to know who he was. It must have been a stunning moment when all things came together in his mind. Did it take courage to tell others that he was the Messiah? Oh, I think so.
I feel the Savior’s courage and love in these words, and in my experiences as he exchanges mourning for the oil of joy.