Ash Wednesday, 2025: Repairers of the Breach
Isaiah 58:1-12
Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. (v. 12)
A breach is a gap in a wall, barrier, or defense. In farming, it’s where sheep break loose and wander. In civil engineering, it’s a weak spot in the levee that eventually gives way to cause a flood. In warfare, it’s the point where the enemy forces entry to cause destruction. Reflecting on this scripture passage reveals that in God’s kingdom, the calls to feed and clothe the hungry, challenge injustice, show hospitality to strangers, and heal broken relationships are calls to repair breaches, and these repairs require ongoing attention and care.
God, through the prophet Isaiah, pointed out a deeper issue of the people that required attention: a breach in a matter of the heart. While the people may have followed the outward requirements of the law, such as fasting, their motives were wrong. God challenged them to reconsider what true devotion actually is. God’s message to them, and to us, is clear: When we choose to practice righteousness and align ourselves with God’s ways, God will go before us, guide us, and meet our needs. God promises to be near, strengthening us, revitalizing us with the water of life, and equipping us to fulfill God’s will and calling on our lives.
I’ve always thought of God, in Christ Jesus, as the ultimate repairer of the breach. And it’s true that Jesus does indeed mend things that are broken. He reconciles us to God, brings healing to our minds, bodies, and spirits, and strengthens us daily through the Holy Spirit’s presence. However, this passage reveals that God’s people, including you and I, are also called to be "repairers of the breach" and "restorers of streets to dwell in." Being a breach repairer goes beyond simply rebuilding; it demands strengthening the very areas where the breaches have occurred. This calling invites us to work toward a flourishing world where all can live in peace, in harmony with God, neighbours, and all of creation.
The season of Lent offers a time for sincere self-examination, genuine repentance, and a renewed commitment to walk in the footsteps of our Saviour. As we dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to loving God and neighbour, we fulfill God’s calling to be builders and restorers, working for God’s glory and the flourishing of all creation.
Prayer: May righteousness and peace show their faces as we do your will, O God.
Sumarme Goble