Ordinary Time

January 9, 2023

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.
And he said to me, ‘You are my servant,
   Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’
But I said, ‘I have labored in vain,
   I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord,
   and my reward with my God.’ –Isaiah 40:1-4

I have recently felt that I have labored in vain. It is not a good feeling. I questioned whether I had made wrong choices and had drifted from God’s guidance to accomplish some things I still believe need to be done. Had I chosen the wrong path? Do I need to realign with God? Or have I run straight into the wall of those principalities and powers that Paul described? If so, what is the best way to meet the needs I have identified?

I recall the story of Balaam*, who thought he was doing what was right until an angel of the Lord stood in his path. Balaam did not see the angel, but his donkey did, and his donkey went in a different direction. Balaam ended up beating the donkey for not obeying Balaam’s instructions. Then the donkey asked Balaam why he was beating him. Had the donkey ever behaved this way before? We must always look deeper into why we are pursuing the path we are taking when everything seems to be going wrong.

The true test of what we are doing is right is whether it passes the test of God’s love. If our actions are not grounded in love, then they are not of God. I cling closely to the scripture Create in me a clean heart and a right spirit. (Psalm 51:10)

Prayer: Lord, take the blinders from my eyes when I see what I want to see, but also help me see what you need me to see. Amen.

*See Numbers 22 beginning at verse 22.

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.