Advent
November 21, 2016

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come
   the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
   and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
   to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
   and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
   and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. –Isaiah 2:1-3

Our charge has not changed. God’s vision of justice and mercy is still God’s vision. Our role as partners in God’s purpose is as strong and important now as it has ever been. God is working God’s purpose out. The first segment of the book of Isaiah recounts the processes at work within the people of God during the time of the Assyrian siege and the eventual exile of the people of God. Isaiah speaks hope even in devastation when dealing with a variety of governmental leaders.

Now you may consider this a strange analogy, but I think it is worthy to consider. I worked as a state employee under the leadership of eight governors. Each with a slightly different interpretation of the purpose of state government, and seven different Directors of Human Services who spun their ways into the delivery of agency responsibilities. Each election cycle resulted in re-tuning our work with some changes more radical than others. Most of the programs we administered were funded through a combination of federal and state funds. We crafted our programs to meet federal requirements laid out, while I worked, during the terms of six presidents and their numerous Secretaries of what is now the Department of Health and Human Services. The two entities did not always work in sync. On the frontline of Human Services, the staff open doors every day to the hungry, the poor, abused and neglected children and adults, and the disabled, many of whom might not have known who the president or governor was. Our first responsibility was to these people whom Christ called the least of these and our tasks was to bend and shape whatever was handed down to us to enhance their lives or to do as little harm as possible.

Isaiah is a good role model for us. He worked within the system to bring about positive outcomes, and he worked among the people of God to help them understand their ultimate faith and work must be driven by God’s plan.

Prayer: Lord, show us the way to live your love within whatever system we may find ourselves. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.