Here am I, send me

06Dec
Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’
-Isaiah 30:19-21


Can you imagine growing up the child of a Prophet? Put yourself in the sandals of Isaiah’s sons, Maher-shall-hash-baz (Speed-spoil-hasten-plunder) and Shear-jashub (A remnant shall remain). Isaiah was a Prophet and a man, with a wife and kids. He received his calling 800 years before the birth of Jesus. Isaiah tells us in the first person in chapter 6 of the book named after him. Isaiah describes being called by the Lord in a vision. His first response was, I am not worthy, “for I am a man of unclean lips…” The Lord’s seraph flew to Isaiah with tongs holding a hot coal from the eternal fires. The seraph touched the coal to Isaiah’s lips and the Lord declared Isaiah atoned. Then the Lord called out, “Whom shall I send [into a world of violence, iniquity, power-worship, perverted religious observance, intolerance, and hate]. Who will go for us [giving voice to God’s message of repentance, healing, and redemption]? “
Isaiah said, “Here Am I; send me!”


It is a story of human worthlessness and humility turned to greatness by the touch of that which we call The Holy Spirit. Moses, Joseph the Patriarch, Elijah, David, The Twelve Disciples, Paul of Tarsus! …You and me? 


The biblical figures were ordinary people empowered by the Holy Spirit, who found themselves saying, “Here I am; send me.” Isaiah named his sons according to his calling as a prophet. It would be like a modern-day physician naming his son “Hand wash-obesity-gout” and his daughter, “It’s not terminal...I don’t think.” Admonition and a little hope. 


Our parents called us, “My clumsy one” and “She’s our little dreamer”. We call ourselves "I can’t, I’m afraid…”, “my shame is my secret”, and “I’m no saint; I’m too angry".


What if we took to heart the fact that we are ordinary people, already empowered by the Holy Spirit in the blood and resurrection of Jesus. What if we were quiet enough during Advent that we were able to experience the significance of Jesus, Emmanuel, God among us? What if we were quiet enough during Advent that we could feel the breath of God on our neck and hear the Holy Spirit whispering, “This is the way; walk in it.”? What if we began to call ourselves, “Here am I, send me.”?


Musical Reflection - Here I Am, Lord - John Michael Talbot


Holy Spirit, mind-stream of God’s Love, teach me to look past my fear, my anger, my shame; to see your Light and the Water of Life you have given me. Teach me to gift them to the blind and the hungry around me. Teach me to be in Jesus, body and soul, following the path you whisper without ceasing into my quiet, listening ear. Amen.

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