“Isaiah: A Child Is Born” Isaiah 9:1-7

 In some ways this may seem like an odd text for us to gather around the week of Thanksgiving. We are not quite at the Advent season, though it will soon be upon us. And this text from the prophet Isaiah is often read throughout that particular season - as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ anew. But while some texts are usually lifted up at certain times throughout the Christian year, all scripture is a light unto our path during the whole year - so what is the invitation of this scripture for us, at such a time as this?

Isaiah was one of the major prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures - along with Jeremiah and Ezra. As a reminder - that doesn’t mean that the major prophets were more important then the minor prophets - simply that the writings that came forth from the Spirit were longer for the major prophets than the minor. But all of the prophets had a similar purpose - to speak a word of truth to the Israelites at a critical time in their history.  But we do know what his name means - Yahweh gives salvation. 

Unlike Amos, from last week, who had a message for the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the message that Isaiah is sent with is directed at Judah. And this message is one of hope. Things may seem bad, but God is faithful. God is making a way that the world cannot perceive, but that doesn’t make it any less true. 

And what is that way that God is making? Sending a Savior. This is a promise made out of the faithful love of God towards the people of God.

In other words, God is going to send someone to do for the people what they cannot do for themselves - to deliver them. And that person will break the yoke of oppression that has been binding the Israelites for so long. Though this Savior, the people will see that God has broken the rod of the oppressor and they no longer have power. The enemy has been defeated!

As Christians we believe that this Savior is Jesus Christ, who has come to set us free from  the sin that has bound us for so long. In other words, while the people in the of Isaiah were looking for a King to come and liberate them, to set them free, we believe, friends, that King is Jesus. 

Isaiah goes on to give this Savior four different names. Remember that names were extremely important during Biblical times. Another way to state this is to say that these are the four ways that you will know the Savior has come. 

He will be known as “Wonderful counselor” - he is wise and full of integrity.

He will be known as “mighty God” - full of power. 

He will be known as “everlasting father” - the one who cares deeply for the people.

He will be known as “prince of peace” - because he will be the one to bring everlasting peace. 

So how does all of this connect to today - Christ the King Sunday within the church and the Sunday before thanksgiving in the church and world? To worship God and bow down at God’s throne. Perhaps one of the best examples of seeing gratitude in action is when it leads us to service. Anne Lamott says, “Gratitude begins our hearts and then dovetails into behavior”. Have you ever noticed that it is joyful people who seem to give away more freely their time, treasures, and talents? That people who are always praising God with their lips are manifesting their joy with their actions?

And who is it we are worshipping and living for? Our Savior. Christ alone. 

In my last parish for Thanksgiving, nine different churches came together for an ecumenical Thanksgiving service. Instead of having one pastor give a sermon, all seven pastors took turns standing up and saying ways that their churches were reaching out into the community. They weren’t sharing these things to brag - at least not brag on themselves - but to brag on God. To talk about how their love and gratitude for God has lead them to want other people to know about God’s goodness by our actions. This, brothers and sisters, is what it means to truly be the Church. To serve out of the well-spring of our joy and praise. Gratitude leads to service and the more we serve and see other people’s lives blessed, the more readily we ask “how can I give more?” Do you see what a big difference there is between a prayer of gratitude that leads to action and prayers that tell God to give us something first, before we will even say that we are grateful?  

Worship to our King, Jesus, come from our lips and our actions, which are inter-connected. They express what our heart is feeling towards God. At the close of the thanksgiving service the light of Christ was shared, in a similar way to how we share it as a parish on Christmas Eve. It was a tangible reminder to me that we praise God our light shines - we reflect the will and the heart of Christ - which was always praising the Father - not just when circumstances were going well, but at all times.

What we will proclaim and share with others. If we have reflected upon what God has done for us and what we are grateful for, we are more likely to share that with others - more likely to shine it through our actions - then if we only dwell on what is wrong. Will we testify to God’s goodness at all times?

What are you most grateful for these days? My guess is that if we each actually sat down and reflected upon that question we could fill up pages and pages. But I want to expand that question today - what are you thankful about Christ’s Kingship in your life?  And how that gratitude for the abundance of blessings, some of which we probably never took time to consider before, lead us to live our lives different.  Amen.