This week several of us have gathered together to study the Book of Job. I commend these folks who are committed to learning what God has to say in this complicated and often difficult biblical story. Most of you remember Job. He was a man who had it all and lost it all in one fell swoop. He lost his wealth, his children, his health and his standing in his community. The one thing Job did not lose, was his faith that God was with him and that God was good.

As we study this intriguing book of the Bible, we cannot help but to look at times in our own lives when we have seen or experienced suffering; the type of suffering that just does not seem fair. Perhaps, you have seen this type of suffering. We often cry out to God when we see and experience this type of pain. Why does God allow innocent young children to suffer cruel fates? Why does the person who is so good and so important in our lives find an early death? Why is it that good folks suffer and seemingly not so good folks, prosper? These are the type of questions that book of Job convinces us to voice. And as we search for answers, we long for God to wipe away our tears and show us peace, prosperity and harmony. We long for God’s Kingdom here on Earth in our own time and our own space.

Apparently, folks during Isaiah’s time, prayed for the same thing. Apparently, they too suffered and wondered when God would deliver them and so it must have comforted them to no end to hear the prophet foretell of a time when all would be made well. It must have given them great hope to hear that God would send an envoy who would bring justice to their hurting nation.

Of course, we Christians know that Isaiah was talking about Jesus. It was Jesus who would be sent in to the world to end the unjust suffering. Jesus would turn the tables on sadness, poverty, and despair. Jesus would heal the sick, bring sight to the blind and open the gates of prison to those who needed liberty and freedom. Jesus would be the Savior; the long promised Messiah. God clearly brought forth a new thing upon this Earth.

Through out history, this passage has been a beacon of hope to folks all over the earth who were suffering cruel and unjust situations. Not just folks who were ill, or born with congenital deformities but folks whose life was a constant struggle for breath. Think of those Africans who were brought to this country against their will; folks who were sold into slavery and treated like animals. Think of those in third wild countries who have no food, no water, no habitable places to rest. Think of those who have faced the ravages of war. Those that are innocent victims due to their nationality or their proximity to politically volatile hot spots across the globe. Think of those who suffer torture and even death because of their religion, their culture or even their gender. Through out history, there have been people who have suffered unjustly. And this unjust suffering continues even today all across our world.

Today if you are Haitian, you are likely to live in complete poverty. You may have a hut for a home if you are lucky. You may be able to scrounge for some bits of food. If you are very fortunate, you may be able to walk miles to find some form of health care for your self and your family. If you are lucky, your children may not die before they reach school age of diseases such as AIDS, malaria, polio and dysentery. If you are lucky……

Today, if you live in the Sudan, you may have escaped the war that has torn the country in fragments. You may not have been raped and tortured by warring factions. You may not have seen your children and family members gunned down or kidnapped to be part of the children soldier movement. You may have found some small corner of the land to be safe and you may have found clean, safe water to drink, grubs and insects and trash to eat. You may still be alive, if you are lucky……

Today in India, Pakistan, Thailand and Viet Nam, if you are a young girl, you may be lucky enough to live in a family that can support you and protect you. You may not have been sold into child prostitution because your parents had enough food to feed you and your siblings. You may be lucky enough to remain with a family so that you would not have to wander the streets looking for food and shelter waiting for the next victimization. If you are lucky…

Today if you are lucky, you are an American. You live in a land of the free and the brave. You have choices about how you will live, who you will worship if you choose to worship at all, what you will do with your time and talents. You have access to almost anything you want in this land of milk and honey. Unless, you are one of the few who are mentally ill, mentally retarded, or handicapped in some pervasive manner. Or one of those who have been victimized by domestic and sexual violence. Then you lot may not be one of the fortunate ones. Then you too are one who suffers unjustly.

Folks, no matter where you look today or in history, in foreign lands or right here in our own homes, there may be unjust suffering. We hear the good news that Isaiah speaks of and we know that Jesus has come to put an end to all of it--and yet---we still see the suffering. We do have hope because we know in our hearts that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. We know that in the End, Jesus is victor over all of the suffering we see. We know that we will meet in Heaven and no tears will be shed there. We know that Jesus will coma again and bring this Kingdom down to Earth but how can we wait? How can we find hope and faith while we view and experience the suffering around us? How can we keep going in this failed world?
Folks, I find my hope and my faith in joining with God to bring his kingdom to my world.

When I see and experience suffering I know that I can go directly to God with all of my pain; all of my questions, all of my confusion. God meets me in those prayer times. God cries with me and comforts me and encourages me to keep going on. And God sends me out to helps restore peace, open blind eyes, set those prisoners free. Like Christ, I too am a bruised reed. My wick may be faint at some times but over all, I will not break and my light will not go out because I have placed my life in the hands of my Savior. I want to be a part of the solution. I want to devote myself in prayer and to send money and materials to support those in more need than myself. And I want to help bring justice into this fallen world. I cannot stand by while my brothers and sisters in the world suffer. Where there is injustice, I too have the role of bringing the light of Christ into the darkness. I believe that you have those responsibilities too.

Some folks say that we need to begin this work right here at home and others think that we must place our efforts in those places far away where the suffering is so much greater. When you listen to God’s voice and allow God to show you where your work should be done, it comes out right. This week, your social outreach committee began to meet to discuss where to place our efforts over the next few months. Today, these two churches will be hosting a community wide forum for folks to come together and talk about how to help right here at home. And these two churches have participated in assisting folks far and wide throughout the world by contributing to our denominational dues which cements our covenant with other United Methodists around the world who are trying to bring justice and peace.

This week many churches gathered at our State House to pray for those representatives who are making tough choices in how to allocate our state’s resources. As you all know, times have gotten tough and expenses never seem to end while income flounders. Cuts have been made in areas that affect those folks who are the marginal, the lost, the suffering. There is ministry to be done. Jesus has come to give us life and we must respond to those who He has placed in our midst to care for.

Today, I ask you to hear God’s words to you. God has inserted your name in the words and the exhortation. “I am the Lord. I have called you in righteousness. I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners form the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness”. God is calling you today. God is calling you by name. God has equipped you with all that you need to bring justice to this world. God has proclaimed it and is waiting for your response. As we begin a new year, it is perhaps tempting to think about our won agendas. It is tempting to think about our own goals for the coming year. And yet, God has called us and God has told us that we are to be his light., a light to the nations. Where are you shining today?

Today, God has declared a new thing. The former things have passed away. WE can forget the past; forget the former glories and forget the former failings because God had begun anew thing here in Monmouth. He has started this new thing with you and with this church. Where are you shining today? How are you opening blind eyes? What prison doors are being broken down because of your faithfulness? Where is the justice that God has brought forth into the world through you? Listen to God this morning and ponder what role you are to play in the coming year ahead. Justice for all is achievable when we all follow God’s voice in our actions and our voice. Be God’s light today. Amen.