The Bitesized Bible
Isaiah 61.1-3
5 May 2021
Reflection by Sheila Billings
Have you ever read a passage in the Bible and
thought “Oops this is speaking to me”?
This happened to me recently when I read the
following passage in the Old testament.
It took me by surprise!
Let me share with you:
Isaiah 61: 1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has
anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the
year of the Lord’s favour
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those
who grieve in Zion –
to bestow on them a crown of
beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendour.
[New International
Version]
How often do we pray to God and ask Him to send someone to help a person we know is in need or an area of the world where there is poverty or disaster?
How often do we read that Jesus healed the sick, comforted those in sorrow, fed the hungry and stood up for those who were being oppressed?
As I read this passage it struck me that this could have been written about me. When we read this passage, we should be the “me”. We can be the answer to our prayer. Through his Holy Spirit God enables us to do extraordinary things in his name.
Let’s face it. A smile to a bin collector or the cashier in the supermarket can make their day brighter. A can of beans donated to a Foodbank takes away the pain of hunger for a mealtime. A listening ear can reduce the anguish of mental health issues.
St Theresa of Avila wrote this:
Christ has no body now but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world.
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.
Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
Question
How can you be the “me” in this passage?
Prayer
Father I give you myself. Open my eyes to see opportunities to share
your love with others, as I go through each day.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit and enable me to do extraordinary things in your
name so that others may know the love
that you have, for each one of us. Amen
Last Updated: 5 May 2021
