Isaiah 61:11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
This third Sunday of Advent we are reading this passage from Isaiah in the context of a Gospel Lesson which consists of the Mary's Song of Praise which is called "Magnificat."
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
How can one preach from the lectionary and not preach the Social Gospel? Those politicians in Washington (and Madison) who make a big show of their religious piety by denying equality to lesbians and gays, and then cut tax deals for "the rich" while sending the hungry away empty are not rooted in the God which Isaiah and Mary knew. Those among us who would force merchants to say "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays," seem unconcerned that many of our fellow citizens must choose between "heat or eat" this season. Could it be that Isaiah and Mary's God is guilty of "class warfare"? Or has the warfare already ended and "the rich" have won in the end? What do we need to do to be truly rooted in God again?
No comments:
Post a Comment