I.
The word from the Prophet we look at this week covers a lot of ground and a lot of what has been the lives of the people and will be in their lives.

Let’s start off slow, if you will, and see what “all” we can take in from the Prophet.

In our “slow” start let’s read the passage three times.

First, don’t rush through the passage, but listen deeply. You may want to stop frequently, maybe with each sentence or thought and let it sink in.

In the second reading pay attention to the words of accusation, of judgement, of calling attention to where the people have left their covenant with The Lord. Again, pay attention and let it sink into your mind and heart.

In your third reading pay attention to the words of hope, words of encouragement, words of promise, where the prophet speaks of the new day, the new start The Lord will bring to the people. Notice how the words of hope work for you.

II.
Isaiah 29:13-24

The Lord said:
 Because these people draw near with their mouths
     and honor me with their lips,
     while their hearts are far from me,
 and their worship of me is a human commandment learned by rote;
 
so I will again do
     amazing things with this people,
     shocking and amazing.
 The wisdom of their wise shall perish,
     and the discernment of the discerning shall be hidden.

 Ha! You who hide a plan too deep for the Lord,
     whose deeds are in the dark,
     and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”

 You turn things upside down!
     Shall the potter be regarded as the clay?
 Shall the thing made say of its maker,
     “He did not make me”;
 or the thing formed say of the one who formed it,
     “He has no understanding”?

 Shall not Lebanon in a very little while
     become a fruitful field,
     and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest?

 On that day the deaf shall hear
     the words of a scroll,
 and out of their gloom and darkness
     the eyes of the blind shall see.

 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,
     and the neediest people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

 For the tyrant shall be no more,
     and the scoffer shall cease to be;
     all those alert to do evil shall be cut off—

 those who cause a person to lose a lawsuit,
     who set a trap for the arbiter in the gate,
     and without grounds deny justice to the one in the right.

 Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:

 No longer shall Jacob be ashamed,
     no longer shall his face grow pale.

 For when he sees his children,
     the work of my hands, in his midst,
     they will sanctify my name;

 they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
     and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.

 And those who err in spirit will come to understanding,
     and those who grumble will accept instruction.

III.
After you have rested in the Prophet’s words, what do you find draws you the most? His words of accusation or words of promise?

Do you have any questions for the Prophet? What do you want to ask?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}