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Lenten Season · Holy Thursday: Chrism Mass · Year A

Isaiah 61:1-3ab, 6a, 8b-9

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

April 2, 2026

The Anointing of Solomon, Cornelis de Vos
The Anointing of Solomon, Cornelis de Vos, c. 1630Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
A Flemish painting of the coronation at Gihon, with the horn of oil raised over the kneeling prince and the trumpets already sounding.The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me.Cornelis de VosAn Antwerp painter and dealer, a contemporary of Rubens, best known for warm and unusually frank portraits of children.Kunsthistorisches Museum, ViennaThe Habsburg collection, assembled over four centuries and housed in a purpose-built palace on the Ringstrasse since 1891.Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 4:16-21Lk 4:16-21
Second ReadingRev. 1:5-8Rev 1:5-8
First ReadingIsa. 61:1-3ab, 6a, 8b-9Is 61:1-3ab, 6a, 8b-9
Responsorial PsalmPs. 89:21-22, 25+27 (2a)Ps 89:21-22, 25+27 (2a)

Overview & Insights

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” (Isaiah 61:1)

Chapters 61 and 62 recapitulate much of chapter 60, but they do so in a new framework. They offer five responses to those promises. Whereas the prophet’s word was a brisk preliminary to Yahweh’s word in 59:21–60:22, in chapters 61–62 the prophet speaks a number of times in a way that has significance in its own right but also introduces recapitulations of the promises.

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Take it further: Isaiah 61:1-3ab, 6a, 8b-9

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11Commentary on Is 61:1-4, 8-11 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on the anointed herald of good news, the RCL Advent 3B reading covering this text.

Isaiah 61 Commentary: Out of the Mouth of the MessiahIs 61 Commentary: Out of the Mouth of the Messiah Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse reading of the Servant's Spirit-anointed mission.

Isaiah 61 CommentaryIs 61 Commentary Precept Austin

Extensive gathered notes and word studies on Isaiah 61.

Isaiah 61:1 CommentariesIs 61:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentaries on the Spirit of the Lord GOD anointing the prophet.

Background & Word Study

Isaiah 61 | Sefaria LibraryIs 61 | Sefaria Library Sefaria

Hebrew text of Isaiah 61 with classical Jewish commentary and translation.

Isaiah 61:1 InterlinearIs 61:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew word-by-word study of the anointing and mission language.

Book of Isaiah Summary (Overview Video)Book of Is Summary (Overview Video) BibleProject

Animated overview placing chapter 61 within Isaiah's vision of restoration.

The Church Fathers

Isaiah 61 - Catena Bible & CommentariesIs 61 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment reading the anointed herald as a prophecy of Christ.

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