16 December 2022

And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
and hold fast my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.

From Isaiah 56:1-3,6-8, NRSV

In today’s first reading, we hear  from the final parts of Isaiah, written at the time when the Jewish people had returned from exile. Isaiah’s words are full of the hope and promise of salvation. The prophet makes it clear that this promised salvation is not for the people of Israel only but for all people. It is worth remembering that these words were written long before the time of the missionary work of the apostles and yet there were already people drawn to this message of salvation. Such “foreigners” took the risk of coming to Jerusalem where they risked rejection or exclusion – but Isaiah assures them that The Lord’s house is open to all.

• • What do you think made ‘foreigners’ want to commit to the covenant with God? 
  • How well do we receive others into our own communities – what can help or hinder this?

Pray today for those who seek to belong and for those wounded by exclusion from the communities to which they wish to belong.