Epiphany

January 6, 2020

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
   my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
   he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
   or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
   and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
   he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be crushed
   until he has established justice in the earth;
   and the coastlands wait for his teaching. –Isaiah 42:1-4

Have you ever felt like a bruised reed or a dimly burning wick? My guess is we all have at one time or another. Isaiah is saying to us in the above scripture that God is with us and seeking justice for us even when we are at our lowest. We must never give up on God as God never gives up on us.

I must confess I have not known the pain of starvation or worst watching my child die and being utterly unable to do anything about it. I have not had to escape terrorist or take shelter from missiles being dropped on my village. Some reeds are bruised more deeply than others. I know just enough about injustice to gain a tiny window into what oppression is. I have seen just enough to know that I must be a part of seeking justice for those whose little lights of hope are being snuffed out around the world and down the street from me. God calls us all to do justice.

Prayer: Lord, open my justice window wider so that I can see how I can work toward justice and encourage others to seek justice. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.