God is Enough
The texts for Sunday, September 9, 2012 (Lection 23): Isaiah 35:4–7a; Psalm 146; James 2:1–10[11–13] 14–17; and Mark 7:24–37
…I think it is interesting that Isaiah doesn’t say
Do not fear because you know exactly what is going to happen.
Instead, Isaiah says do not fear: Here is your God.
That seems like quite a different thing.
I mean, Isaiah certainly makes some promises about what will be:
that the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped
that the lame will leap and the speechless with sing
that the desert will flow with waters…
But when or where or how or why or who
isn’t answered.
Nope, it’s just: Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.
God is coming.
God is here already.
God is with us.
Do not be afraid.
It seems to me to be much harder to not be afraid when that is all you have to go on
than it is when you have a plan all worked out
when you know all the details
when you know the who, what, when, where, how…
But that is not what Isaiah gives us.
That’s not what God gives us:
No, instead, God gives us God’s presence
and that is more than enough …
***
Featured image: (slightly photo edited) Picture taken in Schuylkill, Philadelphia, PA. Photographer: Steve Ives “phillytrax” View this picture (http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillytrax/6831955486/) and more of his work on his Flickr photostream (he’s got some awesome stuff).
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