Isaiah 42:1-9 (NRSV)
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Chapter 42Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. Verse 2He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; Verse 3a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. Verse 4He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
Verse 5Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: Verse 6I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, Verse 7to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. Verse 8I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. Verse 9See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Devotion
You come as one among us. William Stringfellow reminded us that yesterday, sometimes called Palm Sunday, tempts the church, as it tempted Christ, to seek political triumph. Palm Sunday, the Sunday of the Passion, however, is no day of triumph. That does not counsel apathy.
"Quite the contrary, it is the example of utter and radical involvement in the
existence of the world...which does not retreat even in the face of the awful
power of death...The world will think you an idiot for trusting God more
than men or idols. And you will be tempted. But remember on the day of
temptation, which is always today...[to] look then to him who suffered
and was tempted, for he is able to help those who are tempted."