Friday, March 11, 2016

Reading: Isaiah 42:16-21

Isaiah 43:18 “Do not remember the former things; I am about to do a new thing.”

            Just before this verse in Isaiah, God declares, “Thus says the Lord , who makes a way in the sea…” (v. 16). God is referring to the exodus, and then admonishes, “Do not remember the former things…”! Do not remember the exodus? Well, perhaps,…yes. God declares, ”I am about to do a new thing…: I will make a way in the wilderness.” God is saying to Israel, yes, yes, yes, I did lead your ancestors to freedom, but look! now I am going to lead you to newness! God is not simply God of the past who once upon a time did great deeds. God is not simply God of the future who will someday set all things right. God is the God who acts now, who acts, here, in this hour, in this dwelling, in this person, in this parish, leading out of wilderness to newness, to freedom.

O God, our springtime, help us to honor the past and also live fully and abundantly in this present moment. Amen

• Place on your altar a picture of someone who has wronged you. Pray to forgive.