Isaiah 42:1-9 & Matthew 3:13-17
I need to confess that when I sat down on Thursday to begin crafting today’s message, it took some
work to bring some focus to the task. You see, my mind and my heart kept returning to the news
from Wednesday and also from last weekend. Now, I truly believe that it is important to be mindful
of the news of the day when writing a sermon, but in this case, I found myself struggling with a
number of different emotions; heartbreak and sadness, fear and also anger.
My heart breaks for the people of the United States as they confront the reality of the violence that is
so much a part of their society. That a government sanctioned agent can kill a defenceless person on
the street and face little or no consequences. This isn’t the first time, and I am convinced it won’t be
the last. My heart especially breaks for the people of Minneapolis, and in particular this woman,
Renee Good, her wife, her children.
I struggle with fear for what happens next. Are these agents encouraged to strike fear in the
populace further empowered by their government? Or are we on the cusp of a reaction by the people
of United states, who have been pushed to the limit? I don’t know and neither direction is pleasant to
consider.
And finally, I am angry. I am angered that we continue to face these events and are forced to listen
to people in power; people with large platforms designed to reach millions of others, defend and
justify the killing of an innocent woman. We have seen this story play out all too often over the
years. People of colour have spoken out against it time and time again. And yet here we are once
again, mourning a needless death; the result of state violence, and asking the same questions over
and over; how this could have been prevented. And no one wants to listen to the answer.
As I struggled with this emotion and these thoughts on Thursday, I came back to today’s scriptures,
that I was tasked with responding to in today’s sermon:
“I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his
voice or make it heard in the street; bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will
not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has
established justice in the earth;”
Isaiah speaks of God’s servant bringing justice to the earth. A justice not rooted in cruelty and
punishment. He will not break the bruised reed. He will not quench the flame of a softly burning
wick:
“I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.”
God’s justice is rooted in kindness and mercy. A justice that brings light to those treated cruelly.
A justice that recognizes the value and the sacred presence in every life. A justice that does not
condone violence and does not encourage others to see violence as the first and only response to a
challenge put in front of them.
Prior to Thursday, I envisioned this sermon focusing on the communal nature of God’s work in and
amongst us. That Jewish religion looks at this passage from Isaiah, which is promising a response
from God to the plight of those lost in exile; their royal family no more and the temple that is central
to their religion lying in ruins. How do they keep themselves whole and healthy while living rootless in
a strange land?
They see themselves; the remnant of Israel and Judah, as selected by God to be that servant to
bring justice and light to the world. That is the response a great many rabbis have arrived at over the
centuries Christians have come to identify the servant described in Isaiahs being personified by
Jesus. And yet, we can still arrive at a place that is inclusive of all who hear these words.
Jesus comes to John for baptism. Why does Jesus need to be baptised? To fulfill all righteousness.
But righteousness can be translated to actually be about togetherness. That we are all bound
together.
Jesus is beginning his ministry. This rite of baptism; by which the Hebrews came to be cleansed and
healed and repent, so they can begin their lives anew on a different path, is his way of declaring he
is one with those he seeks to lead. He is declaring he is with them and working with and for them.
In many ways, baptism is a very personal thing. It involves a decision; either by a child’s parents to
commit this infant to God, or a decision we make as an adult to commit ourselves to follow Jesus.
That we are Christ’s now and forever. But with the exception of certain remarkable and often tragic
circumstances; baptism happens in community. A congregation stands, and speaking for the
universal church, the body of Christ, commits to working with and supporting and guiding the
individual or family in their growth as a follower of Jesus. We are linked, we are one in Christ.
WE are beloved and in God looks at us, at us all and is well pleased.
In a little bit we will join together in the service of communion, when we join in the eating of bread
and the drinking of the cup. Recalling this ritual handed down to us by Jesus through his followers,
we are once again linked with one another; those in this place as well as throughout the world. And
also, with those that have come before us through the millennia, and also those who come after us.
We are drawn together by Jesus the Christ, by God.
These acts of violence we have witnessed – those in Minnesota as well as the violence we hear of
and those we have not personally witnessed thorough out the world. The violence that continues in
Ukraine; the violence that continues in Gaza and the West Bank, the violence in Africa and
Venezuela. That violence sanctioned by governments and the violence on our streets and in our
homes, is an affront to God. It is not a part of God’s justice.
We re all connected through Christ. What happened in Minneapolis harms us all. What happened in
Venezuela – where 80 people were killed so the US government could abduct that country’s
president, never mind the rationalizations, hurts us all.
Sitting here in Canada, we can feel detached from these events; powerless to be part of changing
any of this. But we can look, we can witness, we can learn, and we can be resolved to be ready to
respond when violence and a call for obedience to cruelty and inhumanity materializes closer to
home.
May we never forget that we are one. We are drawn in unity through the love, the grace, the mercy,
justice offered us by Jesus the Christ. So as we struggle with our heartbreak, our ager, perhaps our
rage at the events of the past week, may we find peace and comfort in our connections with one
another. May we turn to one another to find that love that God promises us. May we be guided by
God’s peace, God’s never-ending love. May be comforted knowing that God weeps along with us.
Let us move forward, demanding justice, demanding better of our leaders and never forgetting that
Christ’s justice does not break the bruised reed. And Christ’s mercy does not snuff out the burning
wick.
May we uphold that vision of God’s world. Thanks be to God. Amen
Rev. Warner Bloomfield

No video today.