Isaiah 61:1-4
“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, “ the devastations of many generations.”
Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D. is an award-winning author, speaker, preacher and an American commentator on religion and contemporary spirituality. She has authored 11 books, including Strength for the Journey: A Pilgrimage of Faith in Community, her explorations of major issues facing mainline denominations and how they can not only survive but thrive. She continues to be voice for being the church today and being vital to the faith of Chris’s disciples with studies of real life churches.
“We will survive and perhaps thrive only if we can communicate the joy, pain, struggle, courage, energy and reward of intentional spiritual commitment and purposeful Christian living”
Prayer
Gracious Lord, we lift praise that you continue the power of breathing new life into your holy church and continue to call us into giving our whole selves to being its body in the world. May we continue to share the good news with the oppressed however that looks in our community and bind up the brokenhearted that only love through Christ Jesus can provide. Amen.
