Printable version of today’s devotional guide

Where Do I Begin?

Begin each day with the Prayer of Illumination to help, prepare your heart to hear God’s word for you.  Read “to be formed and transformed rather than to gather information…Read with a vulnerable heart.  Expect to be blessed…Read as one awake, one waiting for the beloved.  Read with reverence.”*

Let us Pray a Prayer of Illumination:

All-Seeing One, above me, around me, within me —
guide my vision as I engage with your sacred words.
Look down upon me, look out from within me, look all around me.
See through my eyes, hear through my ears, feel through my heart.
God of Wisdom, touch me where I need to be touched;
    and when my heart is touched, give me the grace to lay
    down this Holy Book and ask significant questions:
Why has my heart been touched by you?
How am I to be changed through your touch?
All-Seeing One, I need to change, I need to look a little more like You.
May these sacred words change and transform me.
Then I can meet You face to face…when I shall be healed forever.
Your Word and the touch of your Spirit bring healing…
    a healing that will last.
O Eye of God, look not away.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me. Amen.

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HOLY THURSDAY – Day 44

GOOD NEWS
Isaiah 61:1-3

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

            because the LORD has anointed me;

he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,

            to bind up the broken-hearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

            and release to the prisoners;

to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,

            and the day of vengeance of our God;

            to comfort all who mourn;

to provide for those who mourn in Zion –

            to give them a garland instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

            the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

            the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.

OVERTURNED

 When I read this passage from Isaiah I think of being in court and having the guilty verdict brought by ‘the jury of my peers’ overturned by a loving and merciful judge. Someone who believes that “mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13)

Isaiah’s passage is good news for those we typically think of as oppressed, broken hearted, captives and prisoners, those who mourn, and those who are weighed down by criticism or abuse. But it may be easier for us to see these attributes in people that are victims of an offense, than for the offenders themselves, who may also be victims or prisoners of oppression, captive and broken. Seeing and acknowledging both sides is where the true power of justice is served.

The day of vengeance of our God implies that God will bring about justice for an offense. Justice requires right and fair treatment for all parties. Vengeance implies retribution, revenge, retaliation or punishment for the offender; but mercy suggests that we look a little deeper into who is the offender and why. If the offender is subject – or captive – to an unjust system, then it is the system that needs correction as much or more than the offender. Justice for the offender must acknowledge the accountability of the unjust system that influenced the offender’s actions. This doesn’t leave anyone off the hook, but addresses to a greater degree the root of the problem, not just the fruit of the action. Jesus said, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!” (Matthew 18:7)

PRAYER

O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others, my ears that I may hear their cries, my heart that I may give comfort. Let me not fear to defend the weak and poor because of the anger of the strong and rich. Equip me to provide love, faith and hope where they are most needed, that I may do some work of peace for thee.** Amen

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION

When have you been too quick to judge the accused?

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Notes:
This week’s devotional resource was written by Rev. Wendy Depew Partelow, President of the American Baptist Churches of New York State Board of Missions, and edited by Rev. Mark H. Breese of Community Missions. The content was created specifically keeping in mind the populations served by Community Missions.

REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

Scripture Verses are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), HarpurCollins Publishers, 1989.

The choice of Daily Scripture texts are taken from Lent & Easter, Wisdom from Thomas Merton, Linguori Publications.

*Prayer, Lent & Easter, Wisdom from Thomas Merton, Linguori Publications, p. 91.

**adapted from: For Courage to Do Justice #456, The United Methodist Hymnal, United Methodist Publishing House, 1989.

***Ibid, Amazing. Grace #378, first verse.

****Prayer, Lent & Easter, Wisdom from Thomas Merton, Linguori Publications, p. 101.