Bible Text: Isaish 58:1-9a and Matthew 5:13-20 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes |
Last year the Federal Government unveiled the new and “improved” Canadian Food guide. Gone where the days of the four food groups which had remained essentially unchanged since 1977. Instead the groups were reduced to three and the overall message was eat more plants and less meat and dairy, which resulted in a barrage of lobby groups up in arms. I also wonder, had the new food guide not suggested that we eat more plant based protein would we be in the midst of a plant-based fake meat food craze that no one could have predicted. And with all these fast food restaurants developing their latest version of beyond meat products we are essentially omitting the most important message of the new food guide which was to, “eat fewer processed foods”. There are very specific warnings about what not to eat namely processed and prepared foods that are high in sodium, sugars and fats- have you read the sodium levels on plant-based beyond meat products- you might as well eat a real burger! But that’s the thing about food trends they ebb and flow, diets come and go, some are re-branded from atkins to keto but we all know, it comes down to a balanced diet. Now, you might be wondering what does this have to do with being salt and light or with Isaiah’s warning about shallow worship but food or dieting actually comes into play in today’s passages. Isaiah’s warnings occur due to the fact that the people are fasting- but they are fasting to serve their own self interest not as an act of worship. And Matthew tells us to be salt but what happens when we are living in a high sodium world?
First let’s tackle the topic of fasting. Throughout the Bible God’s people fast. They abstain from food for a spiritual purpose and usually it is as a response to a challenging situation. For example many of the prophets invite God’s people to fast during a drought- in part likely because rationing was required but also in the hopes that through fasting their lives will become more in tune with God. Now Bibliecal fasting is not an end unto itself but a means of focusing the mind and body for a spiritual reason. This kind of fasting has nothing to do with diet and everything do to with strengthening one’s self in prayer. The Rev. Ken Shigamatsu, a pastor from 10th St church in Vancouver is one the few modern theologians who has something to say about the importance of fasting, “Fasting can help us ensure that God, not food or something else, is the focal point of our lives. Fasting frees us to feast on God. In our hunger for food we grow to understand our greater dependence on God, and our physical hunger reminds us that we are sustained not by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” I will point out that the Bible doesn’t really command fasting rather it invites people to express their desire for God in a new way. And let’s be clear for many fasting requires a gradual learning curve and has serious health consequences so I’m not suggesting we all go on a fast- yet. But understanding the purpose and practice of fasting helps us understand Isaiah’s critiques. In this passage the people are indeed fasting but not for the right reasons. It’s as if they are fasting because it is the latest diet craze not because they want to improve their spiritual life.
Something that shouldn’t go un-noticed in the Isaiah passage is that it begins as a battle cry. “Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet!” The opening verse is calling the Israelites to battle- but it is not a battle against some external, approaching enemy but rather a wake-up call regarding their own behaviour. The people’s worship practices have become completely disconnected from social justice. This is a battle cry on complacency. And Isaiah, uses God’s voice to not only bring awareness but to call the people to fight against this internal enemy of self-servitude. That is not to say that these congregations don’t enjoy worshiping God. Isaiah says, “day after day they seek me, and delight to know my ways.” Yet, they delight only insofar as their basic commitment requires and their actions do not reflect the actual responsibilities of worship or fasting or prayer.
The first half of this Isaiah reading is a clear calling out of behaviour that is self-serving and blind to the needs of others. At first the worshiper calls out to God noting how the community has gone through the proper acts of worship with appropriate piety and yet God still appears to be indifferent to their needs. The initial divine answer could not be more direct. It literally says, “ Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers”. This fasting is functioning to fulfill the needs or pleasure of the worshiper and thus is not being integrated into any activity outside the setting of the Temple. And if the worship does not inspire actions then it really can’t be called worship. I also appreciate the line, “Look, you fast only to quarrel and fight.” All of this self-serving fasting is just making them Hangry- hungry and angry.
But then the final three verses are clear in their instructions. They should fast in a way that connects worship with loosening the bonds of injustice. In fact, real worship is seen through the sharing of bread with the hungry and being present to real relationships, showing up and seeing the need in people- both friend and stranger. Only by developing real relationships-which often takes place over a meal- do we light the world and find healing within ourselves and with God. God promises that when our worship takes us beyond ourselves that God will show up.
Barbara Brown Taylor, another incredible theologian and sermon writer points out that the theme in this passage, as well as the Matthew passage is this, true wisdom inspires our faith into action. “We cannot be comfortable in our faith if we are not truly connected to a community, inspired by God’s spirit to express wisdom in mind, body and spirit…There is a real challenge in all the texts to nudge the comfortable church to open their eyes and hearts to those in need around them.”
The Isaiah passage is encouraging the congregation to change and through these changes of behaviour we are brought closer to the wisdom of the trinity. Through our actions, which are inspired by worship, we can truly bring flavour and light to the world. This is how we can be salt in a high sodium world. It is not about being flashy or over confident in our theology, its not about the pontification in the sermon or prayers, it is about how our worship inspires us to see the needs in others. Jesus’ message echoes the words of the prophets. When Jesus tells his disciples to be salt and light he is telling them to make the changes in their lives now that will reflect kingdom values. Churches or congregations don’t like to hear the word “change” and yet it is a fact of our individual lives that things are constantly changing, renewing, dying, and resurrecting.
If we no longer wish to flavour the world around us, then we have lost our saltiness and are no better than the congregation in Isaiah’s passage. Yet, last week we heard a message on stewardship, the theme for on 25th anniversary, and today’s passages continues the thread. It is about living the law, living the gospel, living worship by being salt and light so that the world might see where God is at work. That’s the best diet we could adopt, lots of living and lots of flavour. Amen