Isaiah 42:1-9

“He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.” vss. 2-3

Jesus used the prophet Isaiah as a source for his own self-understanding, and since Isaiah used the metaphor of Servant to describe the people of Israel, Jesus seems to have adopted that description as the model for his ministry. Jesus was not the kind of religious leader who called attention to himself. Rather than parading about in the streets offering prayers and giving alms, Jesus advised doing good in secrecy and was skilled in gently lifting up the hurting and offering strength to the weak. What Isaiah advised and Jesus practiced is different from what has become the norm in the political world. Our politicians are boastful, arrogant, and sickeningly self-serving. And some even claim to be following Christian virtues! It’s as though they’ve never read the gospels. Now it may very well be that a kind and gentle politician would be a loser in this societal climate, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if such a person was even an option for voters? And even if that can never happen in the world of politics, we should be glad that it can happen among the followers of Jesus. We can speak gently to others and act kindly to those in need. In fact it happens every day in our faith communities. Thank God that Isaiah’s Servant is alive and well!

Thought for the Day: How can gentleness bring forth justice?