Monday February 8 Epiphany 5
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Psalm 80
After rescuing us from slavery in Egypt, God had planted us in new ground like a well-watered vine, and we grew and filled the whole land. But now we are being attacked by a foreign power and God’s vine is being uprooted. God, rescue us so that we may be a healthy vine again.
Isaiah 58: 1-12
Third Isaiah, the author of the last third of the book, continues to critique the people after their return to Jerusalem. In this passage, God critiques the people for being religiously loyal, but continuing to use violence. God insists that what God wants is justice and care for those who are oppressed and without food. Without that, their religious loyalty is worth nothing. But by doing justice, their light will shine around the world and they will be filled with good things and God will be with them.
This is an equal challenge for the national priorities in our day.
Mark 9: 30-41
Jesus teaches a second time about the need to die in order for love, and the kingdom, to come. The disciples do the opposite – they quarrel about which of them is most important. Jesus uses a child, the most insignificant person, to demonstrate the value of someone even though they don’t have power over others. But the disciples continue to resist paying the cost of love—they try to stop someone from healing people because the person isn’t one of them—they want to control who gets healed and retain that power for themselves and thus get all the glory. Jesus insists that love delights in people being healed, no matter by whom or by how small an act—even giving a cup of water can be an act of love. But the disciples still don’t see.
This week’s collect:
Merciful Lord,
grant to your faithful people pardon and peace,
that we may be cleansed from all our sins
and serve you with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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