January 16

Is.49:1-7 Now the servant speaks. Already the servant is looking backward as well as forward, so it is perfect for a January reading. I think the word servant comes with too much baggage, so we are better off speaking of being of service, acts of service, public service.

 

The view of the servant is reframed as instead of being absent the servant has been  concealed for safe keeping until the time was right..The servants in the readings this morning do not seem to fit the business literature of the CEO as charismatic leader.

 V.4 deep humility is the central theme here. This would be an excellent tool to look back over one's life, maybe better one's work, one's vocation and look at its peaks and valleys. Also, not how the servant points to God as giving strength. Since the servant can point to failure, achievement does not carry the work of the servant forward. How do we serve God's purposes?

 

 For a failure, it is all the more remarkable that the servant is called to be a light to the nations, even though its own light seems to be dimly perceived. It is too light a thing (compared to kabod/weighty/glory?) to merely work with Israel, but now has global import. It is as if too say, no big deal about the small failure, you are now called to a larger purpose. v. 7 is a great example of the Bible's love for reversal, as one day little Israel will be the magnet for the powerful to abase themselves, as Israel itself was abased. Indeed the one despised could be reflexive to oneself as abased in one's own eyes.

 We often take chosen to be chosen with privileges. here, chosen includes hardships and failures. What powers this servant. Not coercion, not access to power, but perseverance due to being allied with God's vision. Right away, Jesus is called the lamb of God, not the lion of Judah. A lamb is not a physical threat, just as in our Isaiah reading.MLK-The arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice. Known as someone who wanted to serve other, who tried to love somebody. The only requirements were"a heart full of grace"  and a soul governed by love."   Drum major for justice...drum major for peace. leave a committed life behind."

 

In the notion of the priesthood of all believers, we have a Common calling/common cause in baptism- water sisters and brothers, invisible ties that bind us as thick as any rope.

Humility underscores our passages. That is not often a virtue we associate with  pastors, although it often should be.. God continues to work through this church.

Pastors are here  to help shine a light on a way to travel and to illumine the dark places we all encounter along our way.

Jesus seems casual about selecting disciples, far more so than the careful work of a pastor nominating committee for instance.

 In all humility, I see the pastoral role as preaching, teaching, pastoral care, including spiritual work.

shifting roles of leaders and participants in different ways in a fluid pattern that befits the water of baptism.All people of the church are called by Christ, so they can not ever be treated a mere hired hands, or lambs, a mere part of the herd.

What does it mean to serve the cause of Christ/ Come and see?

What does it mean to be part of this congregation. Come and see.

How are Christians always both leading and following in the way of Chris?. Come and see.