Epiphany
January 10, 2017

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7

Listen to me, O coastlands,
   pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born,
   while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
   in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
   in his quiver he hid me away. –Isaiah 49:1-2

Now is not the time for silence, and we do not always speak with our mouths. All are not called to be great orators, although I thank God for the Isaiahs of the world. All are called to do justice and to speak with our actions.

Stories on the news are full of hate being tossed about like a hot potato reactionary to the world tired of terrorism, afraid of its own shadow, leery of anyone who even might be a stranger. I pray for the police who in the middle of chaos are expected to bring order. While even the police must be held accountable for inappropriate behavior, we all own a piece of bringing our world to order.

The one who created the world from chaos, God Almighty, is alive and well and working throughout the world to gather us in and set us on right courses. In times like these, we need to lean fully on God and find God’s answers. Jesus Christ through his life, death, and resurrection demonstrated the way. Christ charged us to not only understand his way but to trust it and live it.

Prayer: God, undergird us with your power and might. Grant us the insight we need to bring order out of chaos. 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.