Is. 40:21,sometimes we go back to dream of the glory days of Protestant churches a generation ago.-The church cannot go “back” to anything. The church will move forward into an uncertain world, even in the face of declining numbers and influence.Like Isaiah, we feel as if we live under threats. What does the church need moving into that future? God’s power and creativity as well as the affirmation that God sees and knows us. God cares for us. God can give the church the energy it needs to move into an uncertain future. Although these words originally spoken to people whose faith might have faded nearly away, they can speak to people whose faith is shaky and tentative. They can speak a word of courage to those who see reason for fear in what the church faces.Has God abandoned us? No.Has God abandoned us in 2018? No.
No one, pastor or president, can promise that the problems of the world will go away.God can give us what we require for whatever the church faces.Yes, God is transcendent, above the fray, but also God is engaged with the world and the church. Davidson-McCormick-The temporal and spatial descriptions of God in verse 28, "the everlasting God" (literally "the God of forever") and "creator of the ends of the earth," indicate the limitless dimensions of the power and concern of God. As such, no historical moment stands outside of the power of God. The rest of verse 28 affirms this as it indicates that God's capacity is endless as God's reach is inexhaustible. The passage then translates these claims to real people in verses 29-31. In other words, we are pushed into a new perspective-can the Creator of the universe really be daunted by what mortals cook up? How big are our problems, really? How much of our response is sheer anxiety?
Ps 147, I Cor. 9:16,Paul will use any wedge he needs to get a hearing, to break into the awareness of another. In our lifetime we have been exposed to thousands of commercials to try to do the same, even for political candidates.
Mk 1:29 Mark answers the question of Isaiah with Jesus in action. He is a healer of body, diseased minds and tortured souls.We are told the identity of some, a mother in law of Peter and others are in nameless need.I always have felt a little sorry for the mother in law that she gets up and serves as soon as she is healed, on the other hand, isn't that our impetus as well when our sin-sick souls have found some relief.As people crowd around the door, begging for help like tuesday and Saturday here and the constant stream of calls and knocks we receive daily, Jesus needs a break, to go and recharge, to go and pray. No such luck, as this time his brand new disciples track him down to tell him that everybody is looking for him (but they found him). He sees that a s a signal to move on. More named and unnamed need in other towns, on the road again.Holds Mary and Martha together, prayer mobilizes action.
Passages touch on perspective.I often go back to the time I first saw earthrise from Apollo 8 at Christmas of 1968. Our big world s looked so small , a blue marble set against the abyss of space. We seem so frail against the forces arrayed against us. What can one person do/ What can a small group do? God does not weaken. God does not grow weary. When we do we can receive a touch of that divine power.
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