Isaiah — Chapter 61
Synopsis Capitis
Synopsis: The Servant's anointing — 'The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me' (v.1-2). Christ reads this in the Nazareth synagogue (Lk 4:18-21) and declares: 'Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.' The year of the Lord's favor (v.2) = the entire era of the Gospel from the Incarnation to the Last Judgment. Lapide's detailed treatment of Christ's anointing with the Holy Spirit at the Jordan as the fulfillment of v.1.
Verse 1
Spiritus Domini Dei super me, eo quod unxerit Dominus me
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. Christ reads this in Lk 4:18 as his manifesto. Lapide: the fivefold mission — evangelizing the poor, healing the brokenhearted, proclaiming liberty to captives, recovering sight to the blind, freeing the oppressed — encompasses the totality of Christ's redemptive work. 'Anointed me' = the hypostatic anointing at the Incarnation (the Son of God is the Anointed One by nature) and the sacramental anointing of the Spirit at the Jordan (manifesting the eternal anointing publicly). Applied to all the baptized who share in Christ's anointing: they too are 'anointed' and share his threefold office of prophet, priest, and king.
Verse 2
Praedicare annum placabilem Domino
To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor — the 'annum placabilem' (year of grace) = the entire Gospel age from the Incarnation to the Last Judgment. Why only 'a year' and not 'the day of vengeance' (v.2b added)? Christ stopped reading at 'year of the Lord's favor' because He came in the first coming for salvation; the 'day of vengeance' belongs to the Second Coming. Lapide: this is why the Jubilee year (Lev 25) was the OT type — every fifty years, all debts cancelled, slaves freed, lands returned; Christ's coming is the eternal Jubilee of grace.