Interesting note in today's homily

[snavemarc]

At Mass today our Priest gave a rather interesting Homily around the first reading (Is 7:10-14)

He spoke about how Ahaz was being perhaps pious in not wanting to try God’s patience, he explained that this may have been because when God gives us a sign it may not be what we expect or something we would rather not do.

What I particularly found interesting was the contrast that the Priest drew between the translation of the Scriptures that we use and the Hebrew translation. In particular, he mentioned that the message comes across a lot stronger in the Hebrew translation. The fact that Ahaz was hesitant to ask God for a sign and this was switched from the “The Lord your God” to “The Lord MY God”.

I mean I found it really interesting so thought I would share. I obviously can not read Hebrew myself, I think it would be interesting to draw a comparison between the two texts though.

 

[Gorgias]

He spoke about how Ahaz was being perhaps pious in not wanting to try God’s patience, he explained that this may have been because when God gives us a sign it may not be what we expect or something we would rather not do.

I’ve always been taught that he wasn’t being pious, but rather, simply used that as an excuse. He already wanted to throw in with the Assyrians, and didn’t want to simply trust in God. If Isaiah gave him a sign, it would have been that much more difficult to say “no thanks… I’m gonna go with the enemy on this one”…!