For
Sunday, February 7, 2021, Readings: Isaiah
40:21-31, Psalm 147: 1-12, 21c; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23,
Mark 1:29-39
Lift
up your eyes and see...Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the
everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth...those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles... [Isaiah 40:26a, 28, 31]
[The Lord] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their
wounds. He counts the number of the stars and calls them all by their names.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; there is no limit to his wisdom. The Lord lifts up the lowly, but casts the wicked to the ground. [Psalm 147:3-6]
I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means
save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its
blessings. [1 Corinthians 9:22b-23]
[Jesus] came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then
the fever left her and she began to serve them...In the morning, while it was
still very dark, he got up and went to a deserted place, and there he
prayed. [Mark 1:31,
35]
The book of the
prophet Isaiah introduces the readings for today ~ more specifically,
in scholarly/theological terms ~ this piece is from Deutero-Isaiah [doo-ter-oh] or Second Isaiah. The book of this prophet is written in three
distinct parts and most likely by three distinct authors. This piece is
sometimes called the "Book of Consolation" as it speaks to an
audience of those in a long exile out of Jerusalem which for some was not
too bad and for others just terrible, not unlike our current state of pandemic. This piece is filled with non-judgmental, hope-filled
language of restoration, rebuilding, and renewal. I like the parental tone of
the opening: Have you not known? Have you not heard? [as if “Hello, I’ve said this before, remember?!”] God has always promised to remain with us and, as during the
Exodus, God's power never fails, never grows faint or weary. The prophet calls us to lift our eyes to look at
Creation and see. In a poetic turn not only are we protected by the wings of God, but
God gives those in exile ~ and us ~ wings of our own to lift us
out of our weakness and weariness, a profound gift that offers us renewal of
strength.
The Psalmist reminds us of the
rebuilding of Jerusalem, the gathering of the exiles to return home, and how
God recognizes and heals the wounds and broken hearts as God lifts
up the lowly. We are all to sing praises,
sing with thanksgiving, make music upon the harp for all that God has
bestowed upon us.
Paul's
letter, in his not always easy way, speaks of his meeting people where they are
to offer the way of the Gospel. What Paul is trying to tell the
Corinthians ~ and us ~ is that we are to welcome, listen, and not judge. That
is a true balancing act and always difficult as we work on loving our
neighbors as ourselves and attempt to be open and inviting about our faith. At
first glance it may seem that Paul is being deceptive when he says I have
become all things to all people, as if playing a false role to entice
others. His intent is not only to show them the way to discover a saving relationship
with God, he also wants to understand their lives and reveal his own weaknesses
to them as imperfect as we all are in service to God. He offers the message of
the Gospel to them free, without charge, no contributions or any financial
support.
And Jesus, lifted up Simon's
mother-in-law and she was freed from the fever. Her response was to honor
Jesus in the way she knew how, a ministry of hospitality. And then he and the
disciples moved on to the neighboring towns to proclaim the message
and show us the way to follow. Isn't that what we each must do?
Let us honor the gifts of God, the
healings, words, and works of Jesus, and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, by
accepting our wings, soaring to new heights of commitment, and proclaiming
the message. There are many directions in this life, but only One Way.
There's a lot of lifting going on in these readings but we only have the light work. Haven't you heard? Just lift up your eyes and see!
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~
Everlasting Creator, You call us each and all by our names, and offer us spiritual
wings like eagles to soar in this life and the next. Grant us the humility to
lift our eyes to see, to meet others where and as they are, to share the blessings
of the Gospel, and to understand the gracious favor of Your limitless wisdom
and mighty power.
O Lord, Great and Mighty
RESPONSE: Lift
and renew us again
~ Everlasting Creator, guide us
to be unwavering reminders, to those in Earth-bound political
authority, of the limits and transience of human power, and their absolute
duty to prosper all who are living lowly in this World, this Country, and this
Community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Lord, Great and Mighty
Lift
and renew us again
~ Everlasting Creator, bind the
wounds and heal the hearts of those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and
grant stamina to all who give them care. We now join our hearts together to
pray for those in need… add your own petitions
O Lord, Great and Mighty
Lift
and renew us again
~ Everlasting Creator, we
celebrate our memories and commend to You, all who have left the exile of this
mortal life for Your infinite and eternal paradise. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Lord, Great and Mighty
Lift
and renew us again
~ Everlasting Creator,
we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt
thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
O Lord, Great and Mighty
Lift
and renew us again
~ Everlasting Creator,
continually renew the strength of Spirit in those who preside at the sacred
feast of Christ’s table, as we share with them in the work for and the
blessings of the Holy Gospel proclaimed. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
O Lord, Great and Mighty
Lift
and renew us again
The Celebrant adds:
Gracious, All-Knowing God, free and restore us from the fever of sin, that we
may accept Your call to serve You in faithfulness, gratitude, and constancy in
prayer. We ask this through Jesus, our Healer; and the Holy Spirit, our
Comforter; who live and reign with You as One God, now and beyond the ages of
ages. Amen.
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