Many years ago in a congregation far, far away, a gentleman approached me on a Sunday morning to register a complaint. He wanted some “feel good” religion; he wanted hymns and songs that were uplifting. He wanted a word from God that would encourage and comfort.
“You, however, Pastor, for weeks now have been finding all the passages of the Bible that make us uncomfortable, and the songs we sing are about trying to change the world.” That, of course, is a paraphrase of his words as I remember them.
But I remember them now because once again in our church and in many churches around the world we are in a cycle of Bible readings appointed for our worship services that are not “comfortable” but they are good. That gentleman had spoken to me those many years ago after we had spent some weeks in worship hearing the Prophets and the words of Jesus. And I agreed with him that both sources were far more challenging than comfortable.
And now I find that we are hearing the same Word again. Yes, we are hearing the same words of the Prophets and the same words of Jesus. That makes sense because unlike his assumption, I do not choose the biblical lessons for any Sunday, they are part of a historic set of readings we call our lectionary. And right now in this season, we are deep into Micah, Isaiah and the Sermon on the Mount.
Last week we heard from the prophet Micah who laid out God’s controversy against people who care nothing for the poor and the weak. It was a blistering message against rulers who accepted bribes, built with blood and wrong, who abused their nation for their own gain.
Finally as if pleading, God spoke words to those people (and to us), “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
This week in worship we will hear God speak in the words of Isaiah 58:1- 12. And again we will hear the Lord call us to be concerned for the homeless and hungry, to act on behalf of the afflicted and the poor, and to strive for justice and banish oppression. These are not easy words to hear, and I don’t find them comforting – they weren’t meant to be.
They were a timely accusation those many years ago. And sadly to say, they have been contemporary and relevant in every age. We (societies and cultures and individuals) still need to hear them. God is challenging us through the inspired speech of Isaiah to be better people and to shape a better world.
There is promise in these words as well as challenge. Isaiah 58:9-10 “If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like noonday.” That verse and others in Isaiah describe how faithful people have the opportunity and great honor to be the light of God which shines in dark places bringing hope to many.
This Sunday we will also hear the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
There are challenge and promise in those words too. Be the light Isaiah describes, share the light Jesus says you are. Be bold and hold the light of God’s goodness high, and you will give “light to all in the house.”
What a wonderful world it will be. Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month our contributor is Reverend Mark Ditmanson of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais.
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