Isaiah 49:8-16

Epiphany 8 - Year A

Isaiah 49:8-16

What happens should you begin to track down a choice of G*D over Wealth? Ancient Isaiah sees what G*D's leadership would mean, "I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to resettle families on the ruined properties."

Right! To choose G*D is to choose to be engaged in service of a larger value than self. To follow G*D is to return to the ancient creation task of confirming and continuing care for the earth that is our source material. To follow Wealth is to claim dominion over the earth for our immediate benefit.

Right! to choose G*D is to choose to see that families have living water, a living wage, a living community to bind them again to deeper and wider living where they are. To follow Wealth is to toss more people off their property, always cutting labor wages, leaving people behind to increase profit - at any cost.

In these two examples, following G*D returns us to the two great commands to love G*D (Creator/Creation) and to love Neighbor (Family/Community).

G*D? Wealth? Long term? Short term? It is still time to decide. Blessings on taking a road more travelled by G*D and less travelled by Wealth. It will make all the difference.