In the scripture readings for Return From Exile Sunday 2, the prophet Isaiah voices God's comfort for his exiled people. Prepare for prosperity again, for although your God was angry for a moment and you were disgraced, his compassion will gather you and redeem you. An everlasting covenant will be made under the witness and leadership of the heir of David, and the nations will run to you because of his glory....
There was a time in the history of our education system, when it was thought that peer-to-peer shame could be a motivating factor to improve behavioural results. At that time, which pretty much ended in the 1960's, if you were a bully, or a class clown, or a constant distraction, or didn't do your homework, the teacher would drag you to the front of the class, and hand you a tall hat shaped like a cone, named after Scottish philosopher John Duns Scotus. I would have worn one today as a demo, but a DUNCE CAP together with long white robes is a very bad look! And standing there in full view of the classroom, wearing the dunce cap of shame and disgrace, you were supposed to be moved to improve....
According to the prophet Isaiah, God is almost ready to remove the dunce cap of exile from his people. They have suffered the shame of being conquered and the disgrace of losing the goodwill of their God, their husband. The generations born in exile have adapted to poverty and hunger – for them, the promised land is no longer their home, it is a fable designed to crush their spirit, a taunt of what could have been, if not for God's overflowing wrath. They are a people abandoned to their miserable fate, scorned by the nations, unforgivable.
It is easy to see the circumstances of the churches in North America, through the lens of exile. Particularly in the rural areas, we are losing our homes, our houses of worship, watching them transform into offices and markets, or simply be boarded up. We are adapting to poverty, as contributions shrink and faithful contributors go home to be with Jesus. We are pictured in society as wearing the dunce cap, scorned for our outdated views and mental inflexibility. And we wonder how God could have let us get to this place, and whether he has turned his back on us and abandoned us.
And there are many theories as to the unforgivable sin we must have committed to draw God's overflowing wrath: Our misuse of the influence we had in the 20th century, our treatment of the LGB+ community, our idolatry of individualism, our guilt by association with the churches who ran the residential schools, our crimes against the environment, our desire to prosper economically instead of freely providing to each according to their needs. For us here in exile, the thought of overflowing pews and church expansion projects are a taunt of what could be again, if only we were not in disgrace....
“For a brief moment I abandoned you,” says the Lord, “but with great compassion, I will gather you. You will forget the shame of your youth, and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.” God sends his son Jesus, the heir of David, to witness to the everlasting covenant in his own flesh and blood – that those who return to the Lord will find abundant pardon of their sins. God sends his son, the Word made flesh, to accomplish that which God purposes – to redeem his people and give them abundant life. So to all who are hungry and thirsty for God's righteousness, come and receive without money and without price.
Based on economic trends and demographics, we may never need to expand Central Lutheran Church to seat 500 people. But if we remain faithful to the Word of God made flesh, we WILL be a part of what God accomplishes through that Word. We WILL have a role in declaring God's pardon to people wracked with guilt. We WILL have a role in bringing people to the peace and joy which is missing in their lives. We WILL have a role in gathering those whom God brings in his glory. Our outlook is not desolate, for our Maker is our husband, and his compassion is with us.
Gracious God, we thank you for your merciful pardon through the flesh and blood of your son Jesus. Help us spread to the right and to the left, enlarging your kingdom for your glory, in Jesus' name, amen.