Isaiah 55-Revelation
January 15, 2009, 22:29
When I was in Taiwan last week, we went for Mass. Although the congregation was small, I was floored by the simple faith and trust which they had in God to provide as well as the way in which they gave ALL of themselves towards worshipping God both in church as well as in their day-to-day lives.
The church was served by one priest and two nuns, all of whom were European but were able to communicate fluently in Chinese. Their simple philosophy of not counting the number of conversions as their KPI, but rather seeking to share the hope and joy of Jesus Christ to those living in the mountains as their goal was a good reminder of how we as Christians should live in order to bring the light and hope of Jesus Christ to others. The church has a long history of working in the mountains. Medical stations affiliated to the church provide healthcare to the communities. Especially significant was the progress which the church had made in the lives of the aboriginals, from persuading them to embrace education and providing them with essential services to progress. As such, the Church has gained the respect of the mountain communities, with aboriginal church congregations growing rapidly and worshipping God in a lively and enthusiastic manner.
During the Mass, I was requested to read the 1st reading. I was apprehensive at first as the text was in traditional chinese, the words of which was arranged vertically and to be read from right to left. Thankfully, it went well and I realised thereafter that the text was perhaps an answer from above to some of the niggling questions that I had. The sermon was also uplifting as it reminded all of us that we are the beloved children of God and that He is merciful and gracious. To have a relationship with Him, we needed to come before Him with all humility/innocence, recognise our sins and trust in His strength to fulfill the destiny which He has intended for us.
For those of you who are curious, this is the text which I read in church that day. I hope it inspires you as it did me:
Isaiah 55
Invitation to the Thirsty
1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,
because of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor."
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD's renown,
for an everlasting sign,
which will not be destroyed."
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