Earth Day Observance

(Isaiah 42:1-9)

“Take a good look at my servant.  I’m backing him to the hilt.

He’s the one I chose, and I couldn’t be more pleased with him.

I’ve bathed him with my Spirit, my life.  He’ll set everything right among the nations.

He won’t call attention to what he does with loud speeches or gaudy parades.

He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant, but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right.

He won’t tire out and quit.  He won’t be stopped until he’s finished his work—to set things right on earth.

Far-flung ocean islands wait expectantly for his teaching.”

“God’s message, the God who created the cosmos, stretch out the skies, laid out the earth and all that grows from it,

Who breathes life into earth’s people, makes them alive with his own life;

I am God.  I have called you to live right and well.  I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe.

I have set you among my people to bind them to me and provided you as a light house to the nations,

To make a start at bringing people into the open, into light: opening blind eyes, releasing prisoners from dungeons, emptying the dark prisons.

I am God.  That’s my name.  I don’t franchise my glory, don’t endorse the no-god idols.

Take note: the earlier predictions of judgement have been fulfilled.  I’m announcing the new salvation work.

Before it bursts on the scene, I’m telling you all about it.”

            Bibles often have subject titles over sections of scripture which makes it, frankly, easier to read and more accessible.  The Message Bible titles Isaiah chapter 42, verses 1-4 “God’s Servant Will Set Everything Right.”  Wow!  That’s a big ask. 

Beginning with chapter 42, scholars call this section of the book of Isaiah, 2^nd Isaiah.  In other words, the writing is different from First Isaiah, the approach is different, the audience seems to be different.  And this particular section is part of the “Servant Songs” collection.  …Now, the Gospel writers and many early Christians found meaning in these passages as they tried to sort out who Jesus was.

            But the Prophet Isaiah was not talking about Jesus here.  Jesus would be coming six or seven hundred years later.  Though we Christians find huge meaning in Isaiah’s words, as we should, we need to let Isaiah speak for his time and his people. 

There are many ideas among Hebrew Bible scholars about who Isaiah was referring to as he talked about God’s servant.  Most of them, though, have agreed that the servant language in Isaiah as referring to Israel itself. 

            But, it was impossible for 1^st century Christians to not see parallels to Jesus, who is our suffering servant, the one who came not to be served, but to serve, the one who would work to make everything right, who was destined to suffer because he spoke out against injustice. 

            For today, it is a fair reading of these verses in Isaiah, to hear God calling on servant leaders to step up to preserve God’s Creation.  Just a reminder: in these verses, the servant leader is said to not be attracting attention to what he (or she) does.  That person won’t ignore the hurting people or those who are small and insignificant.  Good leaders are not ego driven nor do they purposely hurt the ordinary people. 

…I must say that, in reading and thinking upon all this, I can’t help but see the parallels to the recently deceased Pope Francis, who dedicated these last 12 years to being a humble servant.  He always reminded Christians of our responsibility to care for the poor.  He welcomed women and LGBTQ persons (though not moving the needle on these issues as much as we hoped for).  He chose his name to honor Saint Francis of Assisi who was an early humble voice honoring Mother Earth and her creatures.  Pope Francis bravely challenged powerful folks to act with justice.  He was praised for his moral leadership and compassion.  He stood up for immigrants and the poor, and he challenged world leaders to act in the face of the world’s climate crisis.  He was a leader who deserves the world’s praise.      

 It is fair for us on a day in which we are observing Earth Day to be challenged to care for the cosmos that our Creator made and loves.  It is a fair reading to hear ourselves called to keep God’s Creation safe and for us to be a “light to the nations.”

On Friday, we gathered to remember two of our church family ancestors, Ralph and Jewell Reinhart, Sr.  These two were conservationists long before Earth Day was instituted in 1970.  They had many accomplishments but one very sweet way that they are remembered is that they observed Arbor Day by giving elementary school children in our area baby trees, first dogwoods and then red buds.  Those “kids” were to take them home and plant them in their yards.  You may have seen these trees growing throughout the valley. 

Hudson Schools honored Ralph and Jewell for many reasons on Friday, but especially for initiating and planting the Arboretum that still stands at McDowell Elementary School.  These two saints who have gone on to be with God were acting on behalf of God’s Creation.  They understood the importance of doing our part in protecting and keeping safe Mother Earth.

            I have been talking about our Judeo-Christian heritage of caring for Creation.  But, let’s be clear, there have been leaders and people throughout the history of humanity who have taught us to care for Mother Earth.