Today’s scripture: Isaiah 52:1-12 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Alex Pittaway):
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Can you remember how it felt to see someone who you knew was going to give you good news?
- Maybe you were waiting on the mailman to deliver that package you’ve been tracking online for weeks.
- When you were a teenager and you waited on the DMV official to come over and tell you that you had passed the driving test and you would get your driver’s license.
- Perhaps it was the feeling of elation when you bought your first house after years of saving up, and the bank clerk came up to you and said your loan is “approved”.
- Maybe it was getting that phone call to tell you that you got that job you really wanted.
When we get good news, we light up, even at the little things. The Prophet Isaiah felt the same way in Isaiah 52:1-12, when the feet that carried the messenger of the good news is a blessed sight to see.
A pastor at my seminary, Rev. Marty Wright, once said in a sermon that people today get really excited when they spread the good news of eating a really good burrito:
“WOW! That burrito was so goo0-00d! You’ve gotta try it! It’s the best burrito ever! It’s at this burrito place downtown.”
Why don’t we have the same excitement when we talk about the Good News of Christ? The Good News that sets the captives free, offers salvation to the poor, and reunites our souls with the Author of love, the best kind of love on this planet. Surely that’s something to get excited about!
Today’s passage, which talks about just how joyful it will be when Israel comes home after being violently thrown out of their land, and urges them to show themselves at their best. “Put on your beautiful garments, O captive daughter of Zion!’’ (verses 1-2) When we are are united with the Good News of Christ, are you ready to put on your beautiful garments? You can think of the beautiful garments we might wear on a Sunday or even a wedding day. For those blessed enough to be married, you know the feeling of good news worth spreading when you tell the world and those you care about that you’re getting married to the person you love.
Do you feel that way about God?
Let’s get excited that we are in love with the One who created love! The One who loved us so much that Jesus, God’s only son, died for us to reunite us with God, the Author of love.
There is a song from that delightful Pixar movie, Wall-E, when that cute little robot watches an old tape of the musical Hello, Dolly! with Barbara Streisand. The lyrics of the song have the potential to light up the world we face in our daily lives as we step out of our doors to face the working week:
“Put on your Sunday clothes when you feel down and out
Strut down the street and have your picture took
Dressed like a dream your spirits seem to turn about
That Sunday shine is a certain sign
That you feel as fine as you look!”
What would it be like to put on our Sunday clothes of the Good News of Jesus Christ?
It would be like clothing ourselves in freedom, liberation, and best of all the, truest kind of love we’ll ever experience. That’s Good News worth spreading!
Thought for the day: When was the last time you had a really good burrito and posted a picture on Facebook about it? Imagine if we got as excited about receiving God’s love every day.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.