You gotta hope

James Cathcart November 02, 2022 0 0

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Isaiah 1: 10-18 (NRSVA)

10 Hear the word of the Lord,
    you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the teaching of our God,
    you people of Gomorrah!
11 What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
    says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams
    and the fat of fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
    or of lambs, or of goats.

12 When you come to appear before me,
    who asked this from your hand?
    Trample my courts no more;
13 bringing offerings is futile;
    incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation—
    I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
14 Your new moons and your appointed festivals
    my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me,
    I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you stretch out your hands,
    I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
    I will not listen;
    your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
    remove the evil of your doings
    from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
17     learn to do good;
seek justice,
    rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
    plead for the widow.

18 Come now, let us argue it out,
    says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be like snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool.

As Christians we bear a legacy of hope. Not simply hope for ourselves but hope for the world. We are meant to make a difference for the vulnerable, the marginalised and the oppressed. But sadly sometimes, bit by bit, we find ourselves bearing a legacy of complacency, or a legacy of boredom, desperation, or harm. We forget that we are part of a legacy of good news.

We are called to authentic lives, full of compassion for those who need us. We are to wear the heart of Jesus and care for all people and all of creation. This is incredibly difficult so it helps to do it together with others. God doesn’t need the church, but God wants the church, because God loves us. God doesn’t rely on us, God cherishes us.

One of my favourite books I have read in recent years is The Carpenter and the Gardener, written by  Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology. It’s about child development and the role of being a parent and the overarching metaphor is there in the title, she tells us being a parent is more like being a gardener than a carpenter. We can’t carve our children exactly into what we want them to be — controlling everything so it all turns out fine. We are more like gardeners — who can care for them and create an environment for them to grow, we have an important role, but we also have to let them be and let them grow themselves.

God is more of a Gardener than a Carpenter too. We are nourished and given room and time to grow and in our corner of the garden we should be helping others to grow by making space and room for them in turn. Part of God loving us is giving us the opportunity to grow into who we are meant to be in hope. So let’s remember this hope and let it inspire us.

Cause you gotta hope.

PRAYER:

Dear God,

Help us to put aside legacies of complacency and help us pick up the legacy of hope you have entrusted us with.

Help us to be hope in our neighbourhoods.

Amen.