This magnificent proclamation by Isaiah lifts high the hope we have for life restored in God.
These words beckon us to listen, to ponder, to linger, to touch the yearnings deep within. All that our souls truly long for are in this short text. We groan in our waiting for this this wholeness, this restoration to come. And we ask for the grace to see how it has already come and continues to come.
O Lord, we are wrapped in you.
Help us know and trust
this ever present, tender, compassionate, healing love.
Give us faith to believe that you are healing
our families, our neighborhoods, our cities, our nations.
Let us return to you, Yahweh, that you may re-womb us.
Amen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 (The Passion Translation)
The mighty Spirit of Lord Yahweh is wrapped around me
because Yahweh has anointed me, as a messenger to preach good news to the poor.
He sent me to heal the wounds of the brokenhearted,
to tell captives, “You are free,” and to tell prisoners, “Be free from your darkness.”
I am sent to announce a new season of Yahweh’s grace
and a time of God’s recompense on his enemies, to comfort all who are in sorrow,
to strengthen those crushed by despair who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful bouquet in the place of ashes,
the oil of bliss instead of tears, and the mantle of joyous praise instead of the spirit of heaviness. Because of this, they will be known as Mighty Oaks of Righteousness,
planted by Yahweh as a living display of his glory.
They will restore ruins from long ago and rebuild what was long devastated.
They will renew ruined cities and desolations of past generations.
“For I, Yahweh, love fairness and justice, and I hate stealing and sin.
I will rightly repay them because of my faithfulness
and enter into an everlasting covenant with them.
Their seed will be famous among the nations,
and their descendants the center of attention of the people.
All who see them will recognize that they are the seed that Yahweh has blessed with favor!”
I will sing and greatly rejoice in Yahweh! My whole being vibrates with shouts of joy in my God!
For he has dressed me with salvation and wrapped me in the robe of his righteousness
I appear like a bridegroom on his wedding day,
decked out with a beautiful sash, or like a radiant bride adorned with sparkling jewels.
In the same way the earth produces its crops and seeds spring up in a garden,
so will the Lord Yahweh cause righteousness and praise to blossom before all the nations!
For Reflection and Prayer:
What did you hear as you listened to the text? Did a word or phrase stand out in particular? Repeat it to yourself, savoring the word(s).
Meditate on this word, phrase or picture. Notice what speaks to your heart. Tend to that.
Have a conversation with God about what you are noticing. You might journal your thoughts and feelings and how you sense God responding to you.
Savor any consoling words or pictures God gives you. Simply rest in God’s presence.
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