Sean Major-Campbell | Go tell that fox

ON THIS third Sunday in Lent, Prophet Isaiah gives the great invitation: “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.”

The approach of Christology to the text is to interpret God’s salvific invitation in light of Christ. Everyone is invited. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the very heart of God’s plan for salvation. Isaiah only knows a DEI God!

This Christ-talk about the Isaiah text is informed by the prophet’s reference to David. “Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.” Christian theology therefore understands Jesus the Christ to be the one in whom the everlasting covenant is realised.

Those called to be agents of light and salvation should beware of becoming closed with many barriers to hospitality and grace. The word is so pointing, “See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.”

Are nations running to you though? Are nations running to the Church? Are nations running to the Jews and to the Christians? Are the words at the base of the Statue of Liberty, ringing true? Words from the Emma Lazarus’ poem:

“‘Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!’”

When the ways of any nation and any religion are the ways of God, those in search of peace, love, and justice will run to their shores. It is when the ways of God are lived in what we say and do, that people know whether the thoughts of a nation or religion are consistent with the thoughts of God.

The Herods of our time must be reminded that like Jesus, we in the Church will continue to cast out demons. Those who remain silent in the face of much wickedness would do well to hear Isaiah, again: “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

Lent practised for resistance and resilience, sees people speaking out against the schemes of the wicked. They are not afraid to send messages to “that fox”. And so, we must be willing to hear Jesus who says, “Go and tell that fox…” I do not like the image used of this dear creature, the fox which plays such an important role in nature. However, you get the image when applied to human beings who have exchanged their humanity for what is not consistent with God’s will for how we should be as human beings.

Luke 13 affirms the invitation to repentance. We are reminded that our fate will be like those we may think are the worse sinners unless we repent. The fig tree gets a fighting chance. But chances have an end date. Many believers need to repent of their silence on matters of oppression and injustice.

Are you the fig tree? Am I the fig tree in need of another chance? Sustenance is there. And so, the psalmist in Psalm 63 prayed, “O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So, I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.” Look to God. Or as Isaiah says to everyone who thirsts, “come to the waters … .”

Those who come to faith in God, must renounce injustice and the evil powers of the world. They must resist evil and repent whenever they fall into sin. Lent is a time of much grace and renewal for the Christian. Like the fig tree, time is being given to us for strengthening as we journey toward Easter.

How are you using Lent for resistance and resilience in the face of current world events?

Let us pray:

The collect for the third Sunday in Lent affirms resilience through our relationship with God. “Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” ( Book of Common Prayer)

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com