Repair the Ancient Ruins

Today’s readings fit a similar pattern as yesterday. God continues to use Isaiah to instruct the people on what they must do. The words are so powerful, I want to offer them to you as they are. Please read them slowly and notice the “If…then” order of events.

“If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness…[and]  Then the LORD will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. God will renew your strength [and] the ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up; “Repairer of the breach,” they shall call you, “Restorer of ruined homesteads.”

I know that so often on the faith journey, I am tempted to reverse what I hear in Isaiah. I want the sun to rise, I want God to guide me and I want my strength renewed and then I go and do all the other stuff!

But Isaiah seems to be saying that when we set out to do these concrete acts of liberation in the world, God will show up in the midst of it bringing light, strength and guidance. This might mean that we have to start the journey in a state of uncertainty or confusion – with no guarantees that we will be successful – but that we will be given what we need to endure.

I also love the image of God’s people being the ones who repair the ancient ruins and are called repairers of the breach. I see this as a call to engage in the work of healing historical wounds in this country. We may not have caused the ruin, but we are now called to repair it. 

This might mean we work to heal racial wounds that fracture our society – even though we did not originally cause them.

This might mean we work to heal our relationship with the planet or with non-human species – even though we did not originally cause the harm.

This might mean we work to heal old family wounds and separations – even though we weren’t the ones who “started it.”

This might mean we try to heal the deep political and social fractures that exist – even if we didn’t help to create them.

Being “repairers of the breach” is no small undertaking, and if I read Isaiah right, we can’t just wait for the “right time” or the “right conditions” or when we feel “at our best.” There is a promise in today’s reading that it is when we engage in repair work, God will be with us in ways that surprise and sustain us.

In our gospel today, we read of Jesus who is getting in trouble for eating with tax collectors and sinners. No doubt he read this passage from Isaiah 58 literally – as we are called to do – because he goes right to where the social fracture/wound is and sets up shop there. He seeks to repair that which has been separated. And he will stop at nothing in order to try to make it happen.

As we go through the days and weeks of Lent, may we seek opportunities to be “repairers of the breach” wherever we find a fracture.

[Note: It is hard for me NOT to read Isaiah 58 and think immediately about the call for reparations in this country. In fact, I am not sure how we can be “repairers of the breach” without backing reparations. On Saturday, February 24th at Noon, SPARC will welcome Senator James Sanders, Jr. as our annual Keynote Speaker. Sen. Sanders will address “Why Reparations for New York State?” in light of the bill signed by Governor Kathy Hochul. Please consider joining us for this important conversation. You can purchase tickets here.]