Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

This is from the third portion of Isaiah, or trito-Isaiah. It is set sometime after the Persian conquest of Babylon. The Israelites are free to return to Judah and Jerusalem, and to rebuild the temple. But they are quarreling about how to begin, who should be in charge, and how to distribute resources. So human!

I would suggest reading this with a sense of our present days. It is tempting to think that a new political administration will straighten everything out. Or that, when the pandemic ends everything will be rosy.

This reading can temper our expectations, making room for God’s mercy and justice to guide us, rather than our own anxieties, dreams, and biases.