First Sunday After Epiphany

2017 01 08

The Rev. Margaret Doyle

Readings: Isaiah 42: 1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10: 34-43; Matthew 3: 13-17

The night was a few years back. Ken and Frances and I drove a group of teenage girls and boys, our Venture Crew to COPE, the high ropes course in Arkansas which our group chose as a winter adventure. It was winter. Tents were set up, a fire ring built. The kids were not at all sure about getting a warm fire started with the cold wind. As Ken worked to start the tinder, Frances and I cupped our hands around the spark. A bit of wind would blow it out. Protected from the vicious winds in our Ozark forest, the spark grew, igniting kindling, and soon we had true flame. The logs could go on then, and the fire would be stoked as long as we needed it.

In the past few weeks, we have heard a lot about a light. Jesus is born to be the light to the nations. The star led strangers to come and witness the holy birth. A Syriac text tells that the star actually spoke to the Magi, and after meeting Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, led them home and urged them to spread the news in their country. The light.

Isaiah speaks of the Servant of God, which Jesus’ followers came to recognize as their friend and teacher, Jesus of Nazareth. One of the verses this morning, really strikes me; “A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench.” This “servant-leader” image was spoken of widely in my career in faith based hospitals over the years. Meant to help us learn how to nurture our patients, our co-workers, and colleagues, it was a beautiful concept.

Twice in my 36 year health-care profession, I experienced top management who embraced this idea and knew how to implement it. Sheltering the bruised reed and fostering the dim light are tasks that take much patience, love, and care to do. The bruised reed, if braced and watered, will heal and grow. The small flame will grow if protected from harm and sheltered.

Can you imagine a candidate for CEO or any public office whose slogan is, “I will shelter the flame of the hopeless and lift up the broken and wounded folk” being treated with any serious intent? In the corporate world, this would be seen as self-defeating and impossible.

Yet for us, called to follow in his footsteps, this is exactly what Isaiah is saying to us, and what Jesus calls forth from us.

Enter the poet/prophet who penned Second Isaiah to stand with the people in the space where a center used to be. Here is the challenge that the prophet faced: to restore a sense of a Center to a people demoralized by war, captivity, devastation, and exile and cut off from theirsacred stories and traditions of faith. Their call to live as a family of faith within the family of nations was a distant echo.

Songs express the hopes and aspirations of social movements for renewal and liberation. It is difficult to think of such a movement that does not sing itself into transformation.

Think of this first Servant Song as Isaiah’s gift to the church.

Bartlett, David L.; Taylor, Barbara Brown. Feasting on the Word: Year A, Volume 1: Advent through Transfiguration (Feasting on the Word: Year A volume) (Kindle Location 8079). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.

Bartlett, David L.; Taylor, Barbara Brown. Feasting on the Word: Year A, Volume 1: Advent through Transfiguration (Feasting on the Word: Year A volume) (Kindle Locations 8073-8074). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.