Sermon - Mark 1:29-39

<p>Last Tuesday evening, I watched the service for Officer Brian Sicknick who was killed in the attack on our capitol on January 6th. It made me again do some critical thinking about the personal and national crises we as a people are experiencing in our present culture.  We are facing this horrific pandemic, enormous pain and grief, loneliness, political unrest, racism, threats due to growing militias and white supremacist movements, and far too many people getting drawn into rabbit holes of conspiracy theories and lies. As I think about these challenges and our profound brokenness as people, my heart truly breaks. I mourn our deep brokenness. During dark times of challenge, it often seems that we as a people do not always remember God’s presence in our lives.  And, quite frankly, we may ask, “Where is God; has God abandoned us?  Who are we as a people?” Therefore, today’s scripture readings are <strong>again so life-giving.</strong></p> <p>The words we hear in today’s reading from Isaiah were written after the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. After one of the most horrific moments in Jewish history, the people are living in exile. <strong>They</strong> have experienced personal and national crises and their memory of God’s presence to them has diminished. They do not remember God’s promises to them. Their biggest questions are, “Has God abandoned us? Are the Babylonian gods greater than our God? And who are we now as a people?” In today’s reading, Isaiah repeats the rhetorical questions, <em>“Have you not known? Have you not heard?”</em>  And, the answer he ultimately gives is that God has <strong>always</strong> been with the people, giving strength to the powerless and power to faint. During difficult times, Isaiah inspires the people to trust in something <strong>bigger</strong> than their present circumstances. God <strong>is</strong> present with them in their pain, and <strong>they</strong> can be present to and with one another.</p> <p>Often, in times of crisis when <st