Lent

April 11, 2022

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

Jesus lived, and thus modeled, Justice in his time on earth. His standing up against the injustice of powerful religious leaders ultimately got him killed. God’s demand for justice flows through the entire Bible because justice out of balance is bad for everyone even those who seem to be benefiting from the distribution of rights. For example, people who cannot afford routine, preventive health care often land in the emergency room, the most expensive health care available. These people are often in advanced stages of all kinds of diseases that could have been prevented but now require major intervention. We all pay higher insurance rates to cover the expenses of care for everyone.

The poetry of the above scripture is heartwarming. Justice is described as not breaking bruised reeds not putting out the light of a dimly burning wick. The Lord makes it a priority to care for the most vulnerable. We should too.

Prayer: Lord, help us be doers of 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.