Wednesday December 26th, 2018 St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace? (verse 7)
Does your pastor have beautiful feet? Do you? Those are not questions I normally think about. I would never describe my own feet as beautiful. In fact, I try to keep my socks on when other people are around. I suspect that’s the reason that most congregations avoid foot washing ceremonies on Maundy Thursday.
As a diabetic, I do know that foot care is important, and I certainly understand why people appreciate their podiatrist or having a refreshing pedicure.
Still, I think that a person would have to be in a pretty grim and desperate situation to consider the feet of a messenger beautiful. But that’s the point, isn’t it?
Isaiah’s audience had gone through the destruction of Jerusalem and were living in bitter exile. They longed for an announcement of peace, a bit of good news and knowledge that they had been saved.
If you’ve ever been in a hospital, anxiously awaiting a surgeon’s arrival with the news of the outcome or watching for the doctor with a prognosis, you understand how those to whom Isaiah spoke felt. And you understand how they would sing for joy when the news is good. At such a moment, even the feet of the messenger are beautiful.
Gracious God, when I'm worried about an outcome, calm my anxiety and bring me some good news. Amen. — KW
Contributed by Beautiful Feet
Does your pastor have beautiful feet? Do you? Those are not questions I normally think about. I would never describe my own feet as beautiful. In fact, I try to keep my socks on when other people are around. I suspect that's the reason that most congregations avoid foot washing ceremonies on Maundy Thursday.
As a diabetic, I do know that foot care is important, and I certainly understand why people appreciate their podiatrist or having a refreshing pedicure.
Still, I think that a person would have to be in a pretty grim and desperate situation to consider the feet of a messenger beautiful. But that's the point, isn't it?
Isaiah's audience had gone through the destruction of Jerusalem and were living in bitter exile. They longed for an announcement of peace, a bit of good news and knowledge that they had been saved.
If you've ever been in a hospital, anxiously awaiting a surgeon's arrival with the news of the outcome or watching for the doctor with a prognosis, you understand how those to whom Isaiah spoke felt. And you understand how they would sing for joy when the news is good. At such a moment, even the feet of the messenger are beautiful.
