Epiphany

February 4, 2020

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 58:1-9

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?
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?
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 rearguard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
   you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. –Isaiah 58:6-9

I thought this morning I need to reread The Screwtape Letters the story of a master devil training an intern. It has been several years since I read it. I did see it in play form at a theater a few years ago. The part that came to my mind this morning was the part where the master devil tells his intern not to worry about those folks who are observing their religious practices as that should keep them busy. What he did not want to happen is those same folks living their faith doing the things God required of them.

The Israelites never stop their religious practices all the way to exile. They lost their focus on what it meant to be a child of God, a participant in the covenant with God. They got more wrapped up in the benefits of wealth than either following God’s ways or being a blessing to other nations**. Sound familiar. Recently, I heard a citizen being interviewed about our upcoming election saying that her 401k was doing great and that is all that mattered to her. I guess she has never heard of the stock market crash of 1929 or the 1973 oil crisis or the 1979 energy crisis or the 2007 recession. Reread the above scripture and consider how that kind of mindset fits in God’s plan.

Prayer: God forgive us when we turn to lesser gods of greed and classism. Help us find our true vocation in sharing your love. Amen.

*It is actually online now at http://www.samizdat.qc.ca/arts/lit/PDFs/ScrewtapeLetters_CSL.pdf

**See Genesis 22:18

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.