Sunday March 19th 2017

Isaiah 58

1 Cry, cease not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their wicked doings, and the house of Jacob their sins. 2 For they seek me from day to day, and desire to know my ways, as a nation that has done justice, and has not forsaken the judgment of their God: they ask of me the judgments of justice: they are willing to approach to God. 3 Why have we fasted, and You have not regarded: have we humbled our souls, and You have not taken notice? Behold in the day of your fast your own will is found, and you exact of all your debtors. 4 Behold you fast for debates and strife. And strike with the fist wickedly. Do not fast as you have done until this day, to make your cry to be heard on high. 5 Is this such a fast as I have chosen: for a man to afflict his soul for a day? is this it, to wind his head about like a circle, and to spread sackcloth and ashes? will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?

6 Is not this rather the fast that I have chosen? loose the bands of wickedness, undo the bundles that oppress, let them that are broken go free, and break asunder every burden. 7 Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the harbourless into thy house: when you shall see one naked, cover him, and despise not your own flesh. 8 Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall speedily arise, and your justice shall go before your face, and the glory of the Lord shall gather you up.

My friends, there is nothing to add here. The prophet says it all. Crying out to Almighty God in any fashion whatsoever when all the while one continues to do that which is wrong and continues to not do that which is right, is a complete waste of time. God will not listen. We must change our life and do what are supposed to do to the best of our ability. Then our fasting and our cries will be heard. We can begin new each day. If we fall down one moment, we can get up the next. Our Lord and God is a patient God, However, we do not know when our life will be ended here. Now is the appropriate time.

Blessings