Micah 3:5-12 (NRSV)
Read Micah 3:5-12 on biblegateway.com
Verse 5Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry "Peace" when they have something to eat, but declare war against those who put nothing into their mouths. Verse 6Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without revelation. The sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; Verse 7the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.
Verse 8But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. Verse 9Hear this, you rulers of the house of Jacob and chiefs of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, Verse 10who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong! Verse 11Its rulers give judgment for a bribe, its priests teach for a price, its prophets give oracles for money; yet they lean upon the Lord and say, "Surely the Lord is with us! No harm shall come upon us." Verse 12Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.
Devotion
It is hard to wake up to the words of Micah. Micah is crying out in the darkness of a world torn by war and mothers crying out for food for starving children. He brings a word from God who is not only distressed that his creation has fallen into deep darkness, but is downright angry that the very people he has called to be a beacon of light are a part of the darkness.
During this All Saints week I would like to focus on two quiet, rather ordinary people, who are not a part of the darkness, but reflect God's light. Jim and Dorothy live in my cooperative. They have volunteered to walk the halls every night to make sure the windows and doors are secure for the night. Dorothy leads a group of women who sew quality garments for the children of the poor. Without any fanfare they make life better for us and for those who do not enjoy what most of us have. Even as light makes no noise, Jim and Dorothy are bright but silent beacons of light.
My most recent experience with this silent light was their gentle nudging me into volunteering for Feeding My Starving Children. I was amazed at the sight of dozens of ordinary people gathering for five shifts every day, packing meals for thousands of hungry children all over the world. My job has been to put labels on the food packets. Each packet will provide six carefully planned meals. There is no darkness greater than children who have no food. Jim and Dorothy are a beam of God's light and they have introduced me to one of many other beams of light in a world of darkness.
Saints can be described as silent beams of light that reflect our God's compassion and love and concern for justice. I believe in the "communion of saints."
Prayer
Lord of justice and mercy, charge our batteries that we might reflect your light. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen!