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1 Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. 3 "Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. 4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. 5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 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, 10 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. 11 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. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. (Isaiah 58:1-12 NRSV)
A terrific Thursday be yours, dear One, is my prayer. I pray you konw you are surrounded by God's peace, power, and love. And that you are responding with what this passage says we are to do as our fast before the Lord.
I knew of some very loving ranchers, who owned property on or near the Mexican border, who set out daily portions of food and water, for those who might cross their property on their way to a better life. Their acts were acts of charity and not judgement. They knew that more than likely the "visitors" would be hungry, thirsty, and scared. They had experienced something they did not want their family to experience and so risked their very lives to cross a border to find the resources to stay alive, and maybe just get ahead a bit in life. In another state I knew of a retired, older man, who every day bought gallon jugs of water and placed them in the regions known mostly as hot, arid areas of the country so that visitors here would not perish from thirst. These acts were Christian charity, not political statements, made by true citizens of Heaven, who voted for life in sharing food and water. These acts shone the bright light of God's love carried on by the hands of those who love and trust God. These are the ones mentioned thousands of years ago, as those who would be guided continually, whose needs would satisfied; their pasts forgiven, and their future a time of rebuilding. A future with hope.
The prophet never had an easy job. He or she, called by God, had to share the truth about what God expected and it was not to win any popularity contest; it was to call people to righteousness and to a right relationship with God.
As I mentioned yesterday, dear one, we are living in what are perhaps the most despairing of all days. Just yesterday we saw a documentary on the consequences of despair. A son of a pharmacist, acting out of despair, became addicted to an opioid. His addiction to it drove him to a major city where he was killed by his own dealer. The film is more about the pain that has stayed with that family and the family of that killer. There were no winners in that entire situation. All now live captive to that loss and pain. Who or what can possibly free them from their prison cells? If we are willing, God can and will use us to share the good news of hope.
The Lord's last Commandment was that we love one another. Pray and think on that. And as we assess ourselves, correct what is lacking and share love!
PRAYERS: God of love and justice, touch our hearts and minds. Let us touch others with Your love and Your mercy. Allow us to break the chains of hate and ignorance. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a person of love to all people!
Pastor Eradio
