~~~SisterSea~~~

Ecumenical Celebration of the Word Friday January 24, 2014   First Reading:   Isaiah 57:14-19 Second Reading:   1 Corinthians 1:1-17 Gospel Reading: Mark 9:33-41 This year’s theme “Is God Divided?” is really not the question but rather, “Are We Divided?”   In light of this, when I reflected on the today’s readings, the immediate phrase that came to mind is, “the devil is in the details”.   But I don’t think that’s quite right either.   The devil is not in the details but in which details take precedence.   The problems are in the details that divert us from the ability to work together for justice, to work together in loving kindness, and from walking humbly together with God. When we think of Christian Unity, many of us immediately envision the obstacles caused by the diversity and details in the doctrinal or confessional documents of our churches.   Perhaps, as the reading from Isaiah is suggesting, if God dwells with those who are contrite and humbl

First Reading:   Isaiah 60:1-6 Second Reading:   Ephesians 3:2-6 Gospel Reading:   Matthew 2:1-12 The first reading from what Biblical scholars call, Third Isaiah, was written at a time when God has fulfilled his promise and the Israelites were released from Babylon.   They were granted permission to rebuild the temple, which they started to do… but then they got caught up in rivalry and questionable activities for personal gain.   Their crops began to fail and there was drought and thing were generally not going very well.   Today’s reading opens with the announcement of light breaking forth in darkness as an image portraying God’s saving entry into the brokenness of human bondage and suffering. Arise, shine; for your light has come! the glory of Yahweh is rising upon you! Isaiah’s words are an affirmation that light will ultimately prevail even in situations so bleak as to threaten to extinguish the human spirit.   Such a belief can be dismissed as utopian only