19 December 2005

This week we continue with work on second Isaiah by Walter Brueggemann in "Hopeful Imagination."

After writing about being in "exile" Brueggemann turns to a second theme - "homecoming."
Thus Isaiah 40:1-11 envisions a great procession led by Yahweh as exiled Jews come home. Yahweh will gather into the land of Zion all those who had been scattered in exile. The watchmen on the walls of desolate Jerusalem watch with eager longing for some news of a fresh possibility. When they receive word of Yahweh's triumphant return from exile, they rejoice. As a result, the fallen city will be rebuilt. There will be a rebuilding and a gathering . Judah has been hopeless but now will be safely at home. It is for this reason that new songs of joy, celebration, and buoyancy can now be sung.

The mention of a "new possibility" is powerful. Too often, when life is just going along as it is going...when life is a rut in which we have simply learned to live because we have been able to see no other option, a new possibility is the beginning of a new life. Even though the possibility is not realized yet, just the fact that it has come to mind and is now a part of how we look at what is to come in our lives, produces hope and energy for living. Some of these beautiful texts in Isaiah are still able to stir up in our hearts, a sense of new life. That image of homecoming is also an image of liberation and freedom. Those are quite basic needs that are able to kindle a flame of hopefulness in those who have not been able to see beyond the patterns of life already known.

Connection: New possibilities do not need to be grand in order to bring hope and renewed interest in the life we are handed. I would think that homecoming is important for people in exile in so many ways. At the same time, we often don't know that we are exiled at all. Maybe it would be good to think a bit about what home means for each of us.

Lord of Liberation, because you are with us always, we know that you long for us to be free from the oppression of life that attempts to steal away our hearts. When we are far from you, we long to be brought home and once again welcome into your promised life. O Lord, be our liberator. Amen.