Isaiah 1:10-18

Proper 26 (31) - Year C

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Isaiah 1:10-18 or Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

Facing ourselves

For ignoring the vision
breathed by the living Spirit
churning deep within our souls;

Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.

For refusing to look at the vision
alive within those
who look or act or sound different from us;

Christ have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.

For choosing familiarity, ease, and comfort
rather than risking the opportunities
afforded in the vision

Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.

 
Invitation to new selves

If the vision seems to tarry
wait for it;
it will surely come…
it will surely come…

from Kathryn Hawker

How does the line, "have mercy" play within today's American politics that places such high emphasis upon photo-ops?

How does the line, "have mercy" play within your life that places such high emphasis upon being righteous?

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/october2004.html

 

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Isaiah 1:10-18 or Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

Imagine a later Habakkuk in an earlier Sodom or an even later (your location here). Habakkuk could be anywhere religious veneer is of more value than compassion or where preemptive violence rules the day. (Actually, these two conditions bring out the worst in each other.)

How different would the vision be for what it means to live your faith? Though not explicitly stated in this passage, would not both Isaiah and yourself spell out that vision as (1) refraining from harm, (2) the doing of good, and (3) the putting of yourself and your community into an active relationship with G*D that (1) and (2) above might be sustained?

All three of these actions work together. A question for today is which of these three active holinesses needs to be reenergized where you are to break a cycle of decline from deep insight into surface forms?

- - -

come let us argue
invites G*D and saints
our way through
qualities of leadership

let us call one another
to account and change
in the face of
violence and promise

may this challenge
lead us beyond
our current comprehension
of religion and perfection

our standard now becomes
continual reduction of violence
compassion that fatigues not
and honest relational encounters

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html