Back in early August, myself and several friends did a motorcycle ride out west, in the mountains of Washington and Idaho. We had a great trip. It was both a challenge and an awe-inspiring trip. Beautiful vistas and forested trails. All went well…until we were about 3 days from the end. I was riding up a rocky uphill trail and got my left foot jammed between a protruding rock and my footpeg. With no place to go, 3 of my toes responded by dislocating at the main joint. While not comfortable, I was able to finish the ride, plus completing a couple other tours I had planned. I finally had surgery done near the end of October here in the Chicago area.
Through a series of recommendations, I chose a doctor to do the surgery who had his office not far from my home. I had never met this person before but went with him to do the surgery because others had led me to him. I trusted him. I was trusting him to cut open my foot, made some incisions in the bones and then put everything back together again. I had waited almost three months from the time of the injury until the surgery was finally done. Some say I should have acted more quickly. But I just did not feel the need to panic. I decided to just wait and consider my options and let the Lord lead me. To let things play out and be guided to the right surgeon. As an aside, I had not thought of looking at the surgical procedure on YouTube until AFTER the surgery was over. Pretty gruesome. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.
Then there is the other side of the coin. The numerous times in which I just knew that “I had this”. That it never even occurred to me to consult with God through prayer. To consider the needs of others. I am in a small study group through our diocese in which we are exploring the sacraments. During the portion in which we looked at the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, we discussed the logistics of getting a priest to come to someone who is seriously ill to administer the sacrament. I then realized that I have never thought to have this done with either of parents or my older brother when they were ill. I was great at “fixing” things. Working with doctors. Exploring treatment options. Making sure the hospitals and nursing homes were doing the right thing. But they all passed away without me even considering the grace that the sacrament would have given them. The height if not trusting in God at a time of deep distress.
In today’s first reading, the prophet Isaiah is telling Jerusalem that all will be well. Seed will grow, water will flow, the Lord will provide bread and water and the moon and sun will shine brighter than ever. Of course Isaiah’s prophesy is pointing to the coming of Christ and our life in eternity. But like most prophecies, there is a long message for all generations and there is a message for the people in the prophet’s time. To understand the reading, we must look at what is happening at the time Isaiah is writing.
The kingdom of Assyria (present day Northern Iraq and Southeastern Turkey) has conquered the Northern Kingdome of Israel and is threatening the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The King of Judah, Hezekiah, is understandably nervous. Isaiah tells him to trust in the Lord and all will be well. But, instead, the King is negotiating with Egypt to form an alliance and provide protection from the invading Assyrian army. Isaiah warns against this and tells him the Lord does not want an association between His holy people and the pagans of Egypt. Hezekiah ignores Isaiah and form the bond with Pharaoh. In the end, Egypt offers little aid to Judah and Assyria does in fact capture and occupy the southern kingdom.
Isaiah’s words from today’s portion gives some comfort to the people of Judah to wait for the coming Messiah who will heal the wounds left not only by the Assyrians but also the bruises left by God Himself (the punishments inflicted by God on His rebellious people to try to get them to follow His word and promises):
“On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people,
he will heal the bruises left by his blows.”
For the people of Judah, their trust fell on their own strategies and not on God. They relied on making pacts with the pagans in Egypt instead of doing what Isaiah tells them earlier in the chapter:
“By waiting and by calm you shall be saved. In quiet and in trust shall be your strength.”
So, who do you trust? Do you remain quiet and calm when faced with adversity. Waiting for the Lord to guide you? Or do you rush to “fix” things on your own. Trusting only your own instincts? Let prayer bring peace upon you, to allow God to show you the way… in His time.
