Isaiah 58:9-11

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
    you shall cry for help, and he will say, “Here I am.”

If you remove the yoke from among you,
    the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
if you offer your food to the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you continually
    and satisfy your needs in parched places
    and make your bones strong,
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water
    whose waters never fail.

Last Sunday’s first reading included a favorite verse of mine, since high school days, some 50-plus years now. Micah 6:8: You know what God requires of you, to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God. You may know slightly different words, but the sentiment is the same.

This week the reading from Isaiah also talks about what God requires. It is sad that Christianity in the United States is often more known for the pointing of fingers, speaking judgment and entangling God’s pure gift of grace in many strings than it is for care for those who are hungry and in need of God’s mercy.

It is sad because I believe the majority of faithful people are following Jesus’ command to love our neighbors and letting the light shine so that others see the goodness of God lived out among us. Let’s keep working to silence the more known narrative and shout God’s grace and mercy freely given for all.
 

Prayer for Reflection

Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12