The brokenhearted
Laura Digan
December 17, 2023
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Listen to this daily worship
Isaiah 61: 1-4 (NRSVA)
1
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 broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;2
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;3
to 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.4
They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
When I read this passage all I can see in my mind are the heart-wrenching images coming from the Holy Land. The mothers and fathers grieving over dead children, the rubble of devastation, the terrified and wounded. The hungry faces looking with incomprehension at what they are witnessing. The lost innocence of children. The pain. It seems like an impossible conflict, an impossible situation. But it can’t go on. For it is filling the hearts of future generations with hatred, planting the seeds of future conflicts. And all we can do is look on and pray.
PRAYER:
Lord bring your forgiveness to your land, your Holy Land.
May your love bind the broken-hearted.
May your love comfort those who mourn.
May your love bring mercy.
May your love bring understanding.
May your love bring wisdom.
May your love bring forgiveness.
May your love bring forgiveness.
May your love bring forgiveness.
May your love bring peace.
Amen
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