Reflections on the Lectionary, Isaiah 42:1-9
Animals: Tradition - Philosophy - Religion Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Stephen Kaufman, M.D., Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

Reflections on the Lectionary, Isaiah 42:1-9
(January 9, 2011)

This passage foretells the coming of God’s “servant” who will “bring forth justice to the nations.” The passages continues, “He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.”
 
Christians believe that Jesus was the “servant” about whom Isaiah prophesied. If so, Jesus’ work is not done, because there remain great injustices throughout the earth. In addition to profound injustices against humans, the scale and severity of crimes against nonhuman beings is beyond the capacity of the human mind to comprehend.

Christians believe that we are called to help complete Jesus’ work, to participate in the coming of the realm of God (Isaiah 11:6-9) in which God’s will is done “on earth as in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Indeed, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father” (John 14:12). Belief in Christ calls us to action on behalf of justice. As James recognized, “Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (2:17).

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Go on to: Reflections on the Lectionary, John 1:29-34
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