Word to the Wise
Monday, December 10, 2007 - Monday of the Second Week of Advent
[Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 5:17-26]Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will he lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing......
Restoration to wholeness! The vision of Isaiah longs for a day when people and nature are healed and made whole and restored! This vision would have been known to the audience in the house where Jesus was preaching when suddenly the tiles on the roof begin to disappear! The crippled man is made whole again not only in body but in spirit and this presumably included his friends whose faith led them to persevere in getting the crippled man to Jesus. The contrast with the unwholeness of the scribes and Pharisees is clear. The vision in Isaiah is not simply of individuals but the whole people of Israel, and in pondering the significance of this Word of God for ourselves, we might take a few moments to pray for our own nation and planet! During the weeks leading up to Christmas, every ill and sorrow seems magnified, whether it be personal or communal. Family feuds seem sharper, illnesses seem worse and, losses seem more painful. The cheeriness and loud music become oppressive to many. In some areas of the world, it's just another day or season of hunger, war, nakedness and grieving. I pray for a dear friend who is working in the field of peacemaking that her efforts and those of others like her will be successful in bringing about peace and wholeness. I pray that our own efforts to accept the Lord's forgiveness and mercy will lead to wholeness of heart and mind - gifts that can't be put under a tree. AMEN
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