Isaiah proclaims that God will reverse the fate of Israel, and Israel will experience that reversal as salvation and as God's kindly grace, for when God answers our prayers in any way or helps us in time of trouble, that is really a "day of salvation".

Answer to prayer and salvation will take different forms at different times of life and in different situations. Thus the Lord calls upon Isaiah to speak to prisoners and to those in darkness, to those who hunger and thirst, to those who are afflicted. Thus I may experience life as very dark at some stage and then suddenly everything may become clear, whether through a word of Scripture or a friend's support and comfort. At another time, I may feel trapped in some situation from which I can see no escape. Isaiah tells me that God can free me from such a situation.

During this season of Lent, let us pray more assiduously that God may answer all our prayers and save us from all our troubles and difficulties. God is gracious and merciful, good to all and compassionate: Let this belief animate our hope and our love