Catholic Commentary on Isaiah 55

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!” (Isaiah 55:1)

The Invitation of Grace

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The Catechism identifies Isaiah 55:1 as the Old Testament source for the Eucharistic invitation, the free offer of nourishment to all who thirst and hunger, fulfilled in Christ's gift of himself (CCC 1335).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, come, all you who are thirsty. The invitation has no means test, no qualifying condition, no required currency. Those who have no money can come. The wine and milk are without cost. Why spend your labor on what does not satisfy? The satisfaction you are seeking is available without money and without effort. Come and eat.

Prayer

Lord God, we come thirsty. We have no money. Give us the water, the wine, the milk of your grace without cost. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

55
Invitation to the Needy
1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you without money,
come, buy, and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost!
2 Why spend money on that which is not bread,
and your labor on that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.
 
3 Incline your ear and come to Me;
listen, so that your soul may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant-
My loving devotion promised to David.* 55:3 Cited in Acts 13:34
4 Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations,
a leader and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon a nation you do not know,
and nations who do not know you will run to you.
For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,
has bestowed glory on you.”
 
6 Seek the LORD while He may be found;
call on Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked man forsake his own way
and the unrighteous man his own thoughts;
let him return to the LORD,
that He may have compassion,
and to our God,
for He will freely pardon.
 
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so My ways are higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return without watering the earth,
making it bud and sprout,
and providing seed to sow and food to eat,
11 so My word that proceeds from My mouth
will not return to Me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please,
and it will prosper where I send it.
 
12 You will indeed go out with joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush, a cypress † 55:13 Or pine or juniper or fir will grow,
and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up;
they will make a name for the LORD,
an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”

*55:3 55:3 Cited in Acts 13:34

†55:13 55:13 Or pine or juniper or fir

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