e-vo for week of July 6

Dearest e-votees-

This week’s gospel text is the familiar one of the sower scattering seed far and wide and God bringing forth growth out of the various soils. The epistle text from Romans 8 is a powerful reminder of the great and sufficient work done by Jesus on our behalf. Our assigned psalm extols God’s provision; the bounty of God is lifted up. All of these are powerful texts and rich texts. Our assigned Old Testament lesson, from Isaiah, is no less so. We will use this text from Isaiah as our meditative focus for this week.

Peace,
Karl

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10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 12 For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Isaiah 55:10-13, NRSV

This lesson ties in nicely with the psalm. God’s word is like snow and rain that water the earth and bring forth life. Seed is produced for the sower—nice tie-in with the gospel text—and bread for the eater. Those with the eyes and ears of faith can readily discern baptismal and communion imagery in the water and the bread.

God’s word sustains and feeds us.

God’s word brings life in us and through us.

All of creation, including us, are brought to a place of exultation and joy. The wounding thorns and briers shall be replaced by the cypress and the myrtle. Cyrpess is a type of evergreen and reminds us of abundant and verdant life. Myrtle is a flowering tree. God is present always bringing life. God is with us seasonally bringing beauty and joy. Both of these are reminders and signs that we will never be cut off.

We are promised and assured that God’s word will not enter our lives and the world without accomplishing the purpose for which God sent it. This is certainly true of God’s Word—the “Word”, Jesus. Jesus has done what is required and we are granted rich and abundant life—thanks be to God.


God, send your blessings—your word, your waters, your bread, every good and perfect gift—into our lives. Sustain us and grow us with them. Accomplish your purposes in us and through us by them. Send us to be a blessing. Thank you that you will not let us be cut off. Amen.