Isaiah 59: Turning from Sin
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
We look for light, and lo, darkness; for rightness, but we walk in gloom!
In the Northern Hemisphere we are moving from winter to spring when our days are longer and the nights shorter. As we pull away from winter depths, we are reminded that darkness can easily overcome us and wear us down.
We stumble in midday as at dusk . . . we all growl like bears, like doves we moan without ceasing.
All of this darkness makes us tired and short-tempered; we complain and sink low . . .
We look for right, but it is not there; for salvation, and it is far from us.
We wonder, “Where is our God who has promised to abide with us? Who is powerful enough to save us?”
The Lord saw this and was aggrieved that right does not exist.
Despite the calamity and ruin there is right among us because God takes pity on us, his loved creatures. God brings us goodness and rightness in the form of a human child, Jesus.
He saw that there was no one and was appalled that there was no one to intervene . . .
God knows that we struggle to overcome the darkness. God comes to dwell with us as our brother, Emmanuel.
So his own arm brought about the victory, and his justice lent him his support.
St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Ephesians that we are no longer strangers and sojourners but fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. (2:19-20)
He put on justice as his breastplate, salvation as the helmet on his head; he clothed himself with garments of vengeance, wrapped himself in a mantle of zeal.
As we approach the season of Lent, we remember Paul’s admonition to put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil, so that you may be able to resist and hold your ground. Stand firm with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and you feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances hold faith as a shield, to quench all flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (6:11, 13-17)
He shall come as a redeemer to those who turn from sin . . .
Knowing that we are powerless in and of ourselves, our God moves to guide and to guard us.
This is the covenant with them which I have made myself, says the Lord . . .
God keeps his promises because he is good.
The Lord says, My spirit is upon you and my words that I have put into your mouth shall never leave your mouth . . .
And so we will celebrate God’s goodness and tell others of God’s great love.
Nor will my words leave the mouths of your children nor the mouths of your children’s children from now on and forever, says the Lord.
We find ourselves alone and in darkness. God sees and hears our plight. God gives us the chance to reunite with goodness and rightness. God helps us up out of the darkness when we wear Christ as our armor and when we seek God’s love. This is predicted by Isaiah. This is witnessed to us by Paul. This we can believe. This we must pass along to our children . . . and to our children’s children. For this is how we turn away from sin to turn toward what is good and right and just. This is how we turn to God.
Amen.
Adapted from a reflection posted during Advent on December 5, 2011.
Images from: http://a-christ-followers-musings.blogspot.com/2011/01/fruit-of-spirit-goodness.html and http://soithappens.com/page/3/
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