By Ken Newbold, provost
Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 (NRSV)
We are called to be servants of God through acts of kindness, grace and peacemaking, but how are we living the examples Jesus taught? In our ever increasingly busy, complex and connected lives, do we make time to spread love, extend compassion, be welcoming or extend kindness to all of God’s children?
As I reflected on these verses from Isaiah, my mind was drawn to our institutional core value of compassionate peacemaking. Goshen College is focusing on this value as a theme this year and I cannot imagine a more appropriate time to foster peace in our world. Today’s scripture reminds us of God’s calling to be active in our faith and be living examples of God’s love for us. Peacemaking and caring for each other can easily be lost or overlooked in our daily lives, but the season of Advent provides us space to intentionally work on ways to be God’s messenger.
Being a peacemaker may sound like a daunting task or something that is unattainable, but if we make time to find inner peace through activities such as prayer and meditation, we can find helpful ways to model peace to others. Advent is a season of hope, joy and anticipation and in this time of optimism, we must look for ways to be instruments of peace.
We are all presented the opportunity during Advent to create environments that will further peace in advance of the birth of the Christ child. This is a time for action. What are we doing in this time of preparation to help bring light in a season of darkness?
Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 (NRSV)
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
4They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 8For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.
10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.