In the corner of the carpet store stands a group of “misfits”—pieces of carpet that were left over from previous purchases. They are of little valuable to home owners because they do not fit standard rooms. Store owners reduce prices on these “misfits” in hopes to get rid of them as soon as possible.
To our surprise, the great God of the universe who is entitled to the best of everything, loves remnants. He is not impressed with numbers—churches that boast of record attendances, or statistics that tell us there are over a billion Catholics on earth. His heart is not attracted to the “perfect” but to the “misfits.” When he walks into the “store” of society, his eyes quickly turn to those people who have been “marked down” by the world.
At the collapse of Judaism, people were scattered. God raised up the prophet Micah to speak to a remnant—those “misfits” who continued to listen the Lord when everyone else ignored him.
God is in the “mercy” business. Hardened hearts are closed to his mercy, so he passes them by. The humble and the hurting cry out for his mercy—they are not willing to buy into the cheap “happiness” solutions that the world offers. They “hunger and thirst” for holiness, and God always comes through.
Micah (7:14-15,18-20) speaks:
“Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sins for the remnant of his inheritance; who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency.”
God, as a loving parent, does not like being angry. His delight is to show mercy. But if there is no one docile enough to receive his mercy, he must continue to use the “rod” in whatever form that takes. He waits to find a people who is open to have him remove their guilt and drink in his clemency. History shows that this people is usually a “remnant.”
We know that Jesus was attracted to the “misfits” of society. He was criticized for keeping company with tax collectors and sinners. One of his greatest disciples was a woman who once harbored seven demons. He chose leaders who were not trained and certified by the religious establishment. Jesus chose a remnant to be the living stones with whom he would build his Church.
Micah continues to explain how powerful God’s mercy is.
“(You) will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt. You will cast into the depts. Of the sea all our sins; you will show faithfulness to Jacob and grace to Abraham.”
His mercy is so overwhelming that it drives sin and guilt to the bottom of the sea, no longer to be found.
Micah’s words begin with the tender image of a shepherd.
“Shepherd your people…the flock of your inheritance, that dwells apart in a wood land…”
Jesus is a shepherd not the administrator of a sheep ranch. He calls little flocks to himself—those huddled for safety in the darkness of the woodland. He pours out his healing love into their wounds, anoints them with mercy, gathers them to himself, and leads them forward, “as in the days of old.”
Our fidelity to the Lord during dark and difficult times qualifies us to be a remnant for Jesus in our day. The Holy Spirit works with us so that we can be ones who bring God delight—who hunger and thirst for his mercy. We take comfort in being those “misfits” who are of infinite value to God.
“You have favored, O Lord, your land” (Ps 85:2).
