Here is my servant . . . upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry out, nor shout, nor make his voice heard in the street. // Isaiah 42:1-2
I’m the oldest of eight children, a sibling set of talkative, outgoing personalities with lots to say. When we were younger, if my mom needed to rein us in, she would talk in a very quiet voice. Yelling didn’t get the attention of an already loud group. She needed to whisper.
It’s a counterintuitive approach that is shockingly effective. If you need a boisterous, excitable, animated flock to hear you, start whispering. Somehow it quiets things down.
In the reading today, God tells us about His servant, he who will bring forth justice to the nations. This servant will come into a loud population and change things, without making much noise. There will not be crying out or shouting, or the sound of a voice yelling out in the street. His servant will come with victory, but without noise.
And yet, the Scripture continues, the Lord has called us, His people, for victory of justice. We have been formed and set as a light to the nations—and this justice will come without crying or shouting.
We will be used by God and His overwhelming love to help open the eyes of the blind. God’s hand will be upon us, to guide us. Through His soft voice, He will direct us with love to lead prisoners from their confinement and shine His light on those who live in unbearable darkness. He will do the work, but we will bring Him to His people in need.
Our job is to listen. We must tune in to the quiet voice deep within us that guides us with love to the people God yearns to reach.
God, who are You directing me to love today? Please allow me to hear the soft, still voice inside me that directs me to lead with love.
He will direct us with love. // Rachel Balducci Click to tweet
Rachel Balducci is a writer and speaker and co-host of the Gist on CatholicTV. She has a Masters degree from the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia and teaches at Augusta University and is working on her doctorate in Religion at the University of Georgia. She and her husband Paul have five sons and one daughter and are part of an intentional Christian community in Augusta, Georgia. Find out more about her here.
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