Epiphany
January 30, 2017

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 58:1-12

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.
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 judgements,
   they delight to draw near to God.
‘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. –Isaiah 58:1-3

A church sign several years ago read: If you don’t live it, you don’t believe it*. Isaiah seems to be dealing with a community of people who go to extraordinary lengths to practice their religion for all to see but do not keep the faith in their daily walk. We are all guilty of that to a degree.

It is often easier to do things right, but it does not get us what we want thus we do what is wrong. Greed is a major catalyst for taking the wrong path and pride drives us to do some stupid things while procrastination eats precious minutes from life. It is amazing how fascinating my digital tablet becomes when I don’t want to do what I need to do. The real harm comes when these patterns of behavior become our norms and grow exponentially taking over our whole beings. The folks Isaiah address in our scripture today seem to be suffering the consequences of such distractions. They wear the right clothing, show up for services on time, and flaunt their self-righteousness while overworking or underpaying their staff.

Chet Cadieux, a co-founder of Quick Trip Corporation died last year. He was a very respected businessman and a Christian. He paid his staff, not the minimum wage, but a living wage. Said it resulted in retention of quality people. Such action is not the norm among his competition, yet he succeeded while living his faith.

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to see the areas in our lives where we may be on the wrong path, guide us back to your way, and open our lives to the wonders of living in our faith. Amen.

*I later found it attributed to Paul Harvey

All scriptures are from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.