Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
The man quietly turned to me after everyone else had left our conversation. I can’t say who it was, as he is concerned about professional criticism for his position. He knows I am not necessarily a “safe space” but it must have seemed safe. He confided in me. He loves his wife, and she is “a white woman.” His younger in-laws are also, and he has a high regard for them. He’s proud of them. They are dedicated to the good of their family. They have family time together. And his grandchildren are being raised in a culture of safety, a secure family, and with reading as a strong part of the family culture. Why would this be controversial? I frankly hae no idea, but it is, at least in some parts of our current activist culture.
Our Old Testament reading from Isaiah 29 speaks of a coming time when God’s blessing will be upon His people. It is a time of restoration, a time of abundance, a time of learning. In verse 18 even the deaf - the deaf, not the blind - will hear from a book. The blind will see. God will show himself to His people. This is a good thing, but in reality, we will see opposition.
In verses 20-21 the ruthless, like some of today’s activist community, will try to oppose such a restoration. Though the prophet says it will come to nothing, those forces will try to slander, entrap, and redirect all that is right and good.
These are trying times. What do we do? Look to the Lord in hope. But also, we busy ourselves in doing what is good and right. We read to our children. We encourage the things that lead to a stable society. We move ahead despite the scoffers. I pray that the day will come that we can honor our families, that we can be accepting of others regardless of their ethnic, cultural, or economic background, when we can speak in charity, and, yes, even disagree with others but respect their opinions. The time will come. In the meantime, we do what is good and right, regardless of the opposition.
My friend, I pray the time will come when you can speak freely again.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.