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Through these words – “Go and do likewise” – Jesus sends each of us, and each of our churches, to live out his commandment to love. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we are sent out to be “other Christs,” reaching out to suffering humanity in compassion and mercy. Like the Good Samaritan towards the injured man, we can choose not to reject those who are different, but instead cultivate a culture of proximity and goodwill.
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Traveling A Difficult Road
The Old Testament Lectionary reading for this week comes from the writings of the great prophet Isaiah. The passage from Isaiah 40:21a opens with a sense of admonition: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning?” (NIV). In other words, shame on you if you do not know who and what God is and does. After all, you have your experiences, you have your observations, you have your tradition handed down to you. That should be enough. Open your eyes, open your ears, open your minds to your God.
For, there is no equal to your God. His throne is above “the circle of the earth” (Isaiah 40:22). As we stare into the night sky, His omnipotence is clearly visible. Not only is God the Creator, God calls the stars by name (v. 26). God reveals Himself, and we need to draw the implications. The whole universe is but God’s tent, and our Creator will not abandon His Creation, as the prophet reminds us of who God truly is (v. 22).
That reminder should bring us the comfort and reassurance that all too often we desperately need in this world. With the world’s myriad of challenges, problems, and difficulties, we all can have a relationship with an all-knowing and all-powerful God.
As we come to the end of the chapter, it goes on to reassure the readers. Matthew Henry remarks that “a reproof is given to the people of God for their fears and despondencies and then in a few words, silences the fears. Through patience and comfort of this scripture, one may have hope.” Like the Israelites, yes, you have problems, and yes, you have challenges, but…
Isaiah reassures us as he did the Israelites: “He gives strength to the weary” (v. 29a). Then, the chapter ends with those familiar words that are almost iconic. (I looked for a different word than iconic, but there are none. Iconic sums these words up.) “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (vs. 30-31). With the problems of the past in their minds, the Israelites can have assurance. The same is true for us. Sometimes the problems threaten to overwhelm us. However, as Isaiah reassured the Israelites, with the same words, he reassures us.
And as Isaiah spoke to the Israelites, in the Gospel lesson we see Christ speaking. After going off to pray in a solitary place while it was still dark, the disciples later looked for him. Upon telling Christ that everyone was looking for Him, Christ replied, “Let us go somewhere else…so I can preach there also. That is why I have come” (Mark 1:35-38).
As Christians, we know and experience why Christ came. He extended the message of God’s love and presence in an incredible way. He went to the cross to die for us so that we can have a relationship with God and experience God’s forgiveness. In that relationship, as we travel the sometimes-difficult road of life, we are reminded that God travels with us. May our experiences, observations, and traditions handed down assure us that God indeed walks with us each step of our journey.
-Max Furman, Pastor of Antes Fort-Oriole Methodist Churches, 1409 Gap Road, Allenwood, PA 17810