Back to the Original

Here we are, Day 2 of the Great Fast, and already my body is thanking me for fasting yesterday. Every year I find myself thinking, I might not ‘go back’ to eating all the junk….but then I return to my old ways only to be thankful again for another chance to fast. Just because I’m doing something right now, doesn’t mean I will be doing it right next week or next year. I can always fall away because I’m human.

That is the message I have for Day 2. Take a moment and read today’s reading from Isaiah below. Between today’s prophecy and the reading from Genesis reminding us of the Creation, we can understand that the Church wants us to consider God’s original intent for us. He desires us to share in His glory and creation, living with Him according to His ways. Well…..we know we don’t do that every day, so the Great Fast is our chance to return to our original intent.

“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” How the faithful city has become a harlot, she that was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Every one loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not defend the fatherless, and the widow’s cause does not come to them. Therefore the Lord says, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: “Ah, I will vent my wrath on my enemies, and avenge myself on my foes. I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy. And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.” Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness. But rebels and sinners shall be destroyed together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed. For you shall be ashamed of the oaks in which you delighted; and you shall blush for the gardens which you have chosen. For you shall be like an oak whose leaf withers, and like a garden without water. And the strong shall become tow, and his work a spark, and both of them shall burn together, with none to quench them. The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. – Isaiah 1.19-2.3

If we wish to eat of the land, we must be obedient. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden because of their disobedience. Now we must work the soil in order to eat by the sweat of our brow. As long as we remain obedient to God, He will provide for us. If do not, then we will be overcome from the enemy. While it is true the Jews were overcome by many nations, I prefer if we read this prophecy as us being overcome by “THE” enemy, the devil.

How quickly we forget that evil is around every corner! Just because we are fasting today, or fasting yesterday, doesn’t mean we will fast tomorrow. If the prophecy reveals anything to us, it reveals that good people, obedient people, can also turn to evil and rebel. We must be on our toes or we will be cast out of the City which represents heaven.

Today’s prophecy also reminds us of God’s promise to restore us to glory. “I will restore your judges as at the first…” If we turn from our sin, as we learned a few weeks ago from the parable of the Prodigal Son, God will restore us to our original state of glory with Him.

Allow the readings of the Great Fast to inspire you to repentance and obedience. Make sure you read every day, so that you can be led by the Church, and while you are reading, ask yourself how this reading is meant for you. It is never just history. It is never just a story. It is God speaking to you as He did spoke to Adam and Eve in the Garden. Maybe through the Great Fast, we can learn to hear Him again.