Isaiah 58:8
your light will burst forth like the morning

Reflections this week are by The Rev. Michael Wallens

Why does Isaiah say that God’s light will break forth like the dawn? Well, there is no deeper darkness than just before dawn. If the entire sun were to appear all at once, people would be overwhelmed. Rather, a few streaks of light creep across the sky at dawn, the sun peeps over the horizon, and it slowly covers the people with light. Just so the light of God would overwhelm us if it came all at once. That is the reason it will break forth like the dawn.

There is the tendency to believe that a seemingly dark situation can never be redeemed, most especially when all those in power are backing up that hopeless thought.

Questions for reflection

  • What is God’s promise of light for you? What is this light about to dawn?
  • What is God’s promise of light for an asylum seeker? What is this light about to dawn?
  • What is God’s promise of light for those in detention? What is this light about to dawn?
  • What is God’s promise of light for the church? What is this light about to dawn concerning migration ministry?

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Michael Wallens is an Episcopal priest who serves five churches in the Big Bend region of Far West Texas. He also serves as co-chair of the Rio Grande Borderland Ministries in the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande (RGBM). RGBM serves people along the border from Big Bend to Arizona.


Listen to an episode of EMM’s Hometown podcast:

Last year, EMM released a Hometown podcast episode featuring an interview with Dina Nayeri, author of The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You. We encourage you to listen to the podcast and request our Book Discussion Kit on The Ungrateful Refugee.