The Cry that the Lord Answers

Prophet Isaiah's Vision by Dore

"6 Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke? (How amazing this verse is! God clearly states that what pleases Him the most is repentance, to forsake evil and the passions, acquire virtue, and thus be freed from the bondage and yoke of sin)

7 Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

9 “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

(In Brenton's Septuagint this verse reads, 'Then
shalt thou cry, and God shall hearken to thee; 

while thou art yet speaking He will say, Behold,

I am here.')

If you remove the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
(God mentions two sins that particularly deprive man
from His Grace, His Presence and His response; judging 
and accusing another, and speaking wickedness which
includes slander, gossip, lying and false witness)

10 And if you give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday."
Isaiah 58:10 NASB

St Cyprian of Carthage comments,

"Finally, beloved brethren, the divine admonition of the scriptures old as well as new, has never failed, has never been silent in urging God's people always and everywhere to works of mercy. And in the strain and exhortation of the Holy Spirit, everyone who is instructed into the hope of the heavenly kingdom is commanded to give alms."

and St John Chrysostom writes,

...God stands continually waiting, if any of His servants should perchance call Him; and never, when we have called as we ought, hath He refused to hear. Therefore He saith, 'While thou art yet speaking', I do not wait for thee to finish, and I straightway hearken"

from The Lives of the Holy Prophets, p.143, published by Holy Apostles Convent 1998,

ISBN 0-944359-12-4

The Lord's goodness toward us is indescribable. Even 
before we have been able to offer Him fruits worthy of
repentance, if we have mercy on the poor, clothe the
naked and feed the hungry; the Lord will hear our prayer.
He will quickly respond to our cry.

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy"
The Gospel of St Matthew 5:7 KJV