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 by three distinct authors over more than 200 years. 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 times. 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 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, and this is our Way.
There's a lot of lifting going
on in these readings but we only have the un-heavy lifting. 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 to soar like eagles in this life and the next.
Grant us the humility to lift our eyes to see, to accept 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 of
the limits and transience of human power, to those in Earth-bound political
authority and of their absolute human 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 continual stamina to all
who give them care. We now join our hearts 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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