The vision which Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth, for the LORD speaks:Sons have I raised and reared, but they have rebelled against me!An ox knows its owner, and an ass,* its master’s manger;But Israel does not know, my people has not understood.Ah! Sinful nation, people laden with wickedness, evil offspring,
corrupt children!They have forsaken the LORD, spurned the Holy One of Israel, apostatized,Why would you yet be struck, that you continue to rebel?The whole head is sick, the whole heart faint.From the sole of the foot to the head there is no sound spot in it;Just bruise and welt and oozing wound, not drained, or bandaged,or eased with salve.Your country is waste, your cities burnt with fire;Your land—before your eyes strangers devour it,a waste, like the devastation of Sodom.And daughter Zion is left like a hut in a vineyard,Like a shed in a melon patch, like a city blockaded.If the LORD of hosts had not left us a small remnant,We would have become as Sodom, would have resembled Gomorrah.Hear the word of the LORD, princes of Sodom!Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah!What do I care for the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD.I have had enough of whole-burnt rams and fat of fatlings;In the blood of calves, lambs, and goats I find no pleasure.When you come to appear before me, who asks these things of you?Trample my courts no more!To bring offerings is useless;incense is an abomination to me.New moon and sabbath, calling assemblies—festive convocations withwickedness— these I cannot bear.Your new moons and festivals I detest; they weigh me down,
I tire of the load.When you spread out your hands, I will close my eyes to you;Though you pray the more, I will not listen.Your hands are full of blood! Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil;
learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD:Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow;Though they be red like crimson, they may become white as wool.The Prophet Isaiah calls us to learn to do good and requires us to decide to engage with the issues. We are challenged to engage in self-reflection. Praying together during this week of Christian Unity, allows us to reflect on what unites us and enables us to commit ourselves to confront all instances of oppression and injustice.As Christians we must be willing to disrupt systems of oppression and advocate for justice. Our commitment to each other requires us to engage in restorative justice. We must speak out, dismantle unjust structures and create a society in which people can live with freedom and dignity. We must engage in dialogue and so increase awareness and insight about the lived experience of all people. Together, we must engage in the struggle for justice in society - because we all belong to Christ.
Made In the Image of God
asylum seekers,
migrants,
economic migrants,
some more welcome than others.
But you know their human names
Because they are your kin,
Stamped with your image,
Divinely human.
Prayer
And then became one of us,
Proud of those you have made.
Worldwide family,
And eager to discover and celebrate
Your image
In every person, every culture,
Every nation
That we are privileged to encounter. AMEN.
Go and Do
Take time to learn about a culture/language/nation of which you know nothing, or very little. Learn as much as you can about those people and, if at all possible, learn more directly from a person (s) from that group.
Include a different language in the worship of your church at your service or liturgy - it may be more effective if no one in you congregation understands it!
Are there groups of people in our nation or any nation around the world today who are oppressed, excluded, rights taken away, treated with indignity and injustice? Find out more about who they are and their situation and how you and your Christian Community could support them and/or learn from them.
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