+Z’ev

Commemoration of Julia Chester Emery

Today’s assigned readings:
Isaiah 45:14-19, Colossians 1:24-2:7, John 8:12-19

Today is the Feast of Title for the hospitality room on the 8th Floor of the Episcopal Church Center in NYC. It was donated in honour of today’s saint, Julia Chester Emery. I’m thankful for the many hours of rest and fellowship spend in that room, remembering especially the daily lunch meetings of the GenX Fellowship, most of which took place in that room. I also remember a nap I took one afternoon, with my alarm clock on my chest. I was exhausted. And I remember that my then boss (standing in while my regular boss was on Sabbatical) was horrified to find someone using the rest area for actual rest: he forbad naps after that. I can’t remember his name, but I remember the incident. Sad, really.

Anyway, thanks Julia!

Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
Isaiah 45:15 (Jewish Publications Society Tanakh)

The first half of this chapter of Isaiah is a message to King Cyrus, whom Isaiah calls “the Lord’s Messiah” or “YHVH’s Messiah” in Isaiah 45:1. First God points out that Cyrus doesn’t know God - yet God called Cyrus to do some work. Then God says the entire world might be confused about that, but, tough: God is God and he can do what he wants - good or evil (in Men’s eyes) it’s God’s plan.

Then, seemingly in his own voice, Isaiah writes this one line (Verse 15) before launching into some Praise of God before Israel - God made everything and even if it looks confusing, it’s still God’s way. YHVH is Israel’s glory and in God shall all Israel be justified.

The entire chapter is beautiful, containing some of the more wonderful passages of Isaiah, especially in verse 8. “Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open, that they may bring forth salvation, and let her cause righteousness to spring up together; I the LORD have created it.” (Which forms the text of an anthem that we used to sing at St Gregory of Nyssa parish.)

But that one line intrigues me - Thou art a God that hidest Thyself.

After declaring all the wonderful things God does, is this a line in the Prophet’s own voice? Is this supposed to be a comment from Cyrus? Is this a later emendation from some post-exilic redactor? This might be a sort of liturgical exclamation, intended to be Gasped piously by the congregation as the implication sinks in:

Cyrus is God’s Messiah! (Stage Whisper: Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.)
George Bush is president? Again?!?!? (Stage Whisper: Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.)
The State of Israel still survives despite the hatred of everyone? (Stage Whisper: Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.)

The line also reminded me of the Jewish mystical teaching (echoed also in the Stoics, Gnostics and Patristic writers) that we all contain divine sparks - God hiding himself.

But it is curious that this reading should turn up in Epiphany when we are supposed to be celebrating the revelation of God, the manifestation of God in very visible, very easy to grasp ways - albeit surprising:

God is born a baby in the midst of blood and waist? (Stage Whisper: Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.)
God is an unlettered carpenter from Podunk, Palestine? (Stage Whisper: Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.)
God is a Jewish Rabbi? (Stage Whisper: Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.)
God comes to us in our homeless neighbours, our coworkers who frustrate us, our lover who needs us, our children who weep for lack of an XBox360 for Christmas? (Stage Whisper: Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.)
God feeds us himself in bread and wine and fellowship? (Stage Whisper: Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.)

How can we participate in this finding of God? What are the sacraments of the presence of God that we overlook? How often can we find something new and, laughing like Isaiah, suddely exclaim “Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.”

Much love,

Huw