On Sunday, October 25, 2020, the last of four services celebrating the appointment of our four new district superintendents was streamed from First UMC, Hollidaysburg. (View here:https://tinyurl.com/28zbftur) This service celebrated the appointment of Rev. Dr. Joleen A. Willis as the new Altoona District Superintendent. Following is an edited version of her installation address.
Scriptures: Isaiah 52:7-10, Luke 4:14-21
Rev. Dr. Joleen A. Willis
Lord, bless this time of meditation upon your Word. May your Holy Spirit inspire and empower us that we might faithfully walk in your footsteps, obedient to your Word, your commands, and your call. Amen.
Most of us don’t think of our feet as beautiful. If anything I use shoes to hide my feet. Little known fact: I have weird feet. Well really it’s my toes. I have an extra amount of space between my big toe and my first smaller toe. So much so, that when I was wearing sandals as a church camp counselor when I was a college student, a camper asked me if I was missing a toe and I was scarred for life.
I even recall a family conversation, where my Aunt Wanda wondered if I would tie or wrap my toes together every night, if that would “fix” them.
Someone not so long ago told me that it is a trait of a particular ancestry. That tended to bring less embarrassment and infused a little pride when I thought of my toes that way.
When I was in the Philippines on a short-term mission trip, we were traveling north, and all of a sudden one of my Filipino traveling companions abruptly exclaimed, “Look” and pointed out an indigenous person climbing a nearby rugged and steep hillside – no special gear, harness, or rope. My friend went on to tell me about this people group, known as mountain people, and especially about their feet – how wide and solid their feet were. They were born with their climbing gear!
Watching the Disney movie, “Moana”, the feet of the main character, Moana, caught my attention. Her feet were mountain feet! Moana was not the typical Disney princess with the dainty, “Barbie- like” feet formed in the shape of high heels. Moana was ready for action! Moana was ready for adventure! And for salvation. The ocean had not been kind to her people; and Moana was called to set things right.
So, some of you by this time are thinking, too much information! We really didn’t come to hear about feet and we really didn’t need to know about your feet.
But feet are important. And the Bible speaks a lot about feet. We talk a lot more about speech, when it comes to proclamation; however, Isaiah 52:7 brings feet and voice together: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who procalim salvation...
In the Old Testament, the prophets bring good news (and sometimes they brought bad news to lead people to the “Good News”.) John the Baptist brings good news. Jesus Christ brings good news. The first disciples were in training to bring the good news. The apostles bring good news.
Chapter 52 then transitions to the fourth servant song, the promise of a Savior, the suffering Servant. If you thought feet were uncomfortable to look upon, what about the marred and disfigured appearance that Jesus, our deliverer, would take on?
In the New Testament, I can’t help but think about the woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears, drying them with her hair, anointing them with perfume, and then she kissed the feet of Jesus. To this woman, in the midst of criticism, Jesus spoke words of Good News, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:36-50)
And then remember that night, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples? Later that night he would be arrested, beaten, tried, and then crucified. The one who was to have nails pierced through his feet, washed the dirty, dusty feet of those whom he loved, those whom he knew would soon scatter in fear, disillusionment, and doubt.
But this was the path Jesus walked to bring the Good News to fulfillment.
Isaiah speaks the good news of the promise of things being set right for the people of Israel. They have been in bondage and exile: first in Egypt, then Assyria, then Babylon. They cry out for God’s deliverance, saying …
Isaiah 51.9 reads: Awake, awake, arm of the Lord, clothe yourself with strength! Awake, as in days gone by, as in generations of old. Was it not you who delivered us in the past? (paraphrased)
Israel cries out for God to awake, but God calls for Israel to awake!
Later, in Chapter 51 and into the opening of chapter 52 God calls the people to “Awake!” Awake and remember His faithfulness. Awake, for they have been forgiven. Awake, for they shall be redeemed. It is they who had fallen asleep; it is they who needed to wake up to a genuine and active faith.
We are to get our feet ready for service!
Ephesians 6 talks about the armor of God, reminding us our feet are fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace.
Are your feet fitted and ready with the Gospel?
Do you have your work shoes on?
Or, maybe we first need to take them off? Maybe we need to start with how we “get ready; get fitted.” Maybe we first have to take our shoes off and let Jesus wash them. Maybe we need to spend time with God in prayer, reading and studying The Word, seeking God, looking for His guidance, listening for God’s voice, both personally and as the Church.
Have you ever had your feet washed? It’s a humbling experience. I grew up in a tradition of foot washing. We viewed it as a Sacrament. I remember Bishop Middleton, taking the ordinands together before we were ordained and washing our feet. She modelled service and she was preparing us for service. It was a sacred time. It was holy ground.
When we traveled to Korea to adopt Ethan and Sarah, the primary cultural practice we were instructed in was removing our shoes when we went into someone’s home or office. We had the privilege of worshiping in some churches in Korea and were struck by the pastor taking off his shoes and putting on the slippers when approaching the front (nave) of the sanctuary.
There’s a time to take off your shoes, in humility and worship, and seeking an encounter with God, and there is a time to put your shoes on, and go out with Gospel. We can’t do one without the other.
In Luke 4, Jesus went into the wilderness for a time of testing; then he returns to read the words of Isaiah in the synagogue; that he is anointed to proclaim the Good News, preach freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight to the blind, and to set the oppressed free. Only after ‘taking his shoes off’ (i.e. spending time with God, his Father) is he ready to proclaim that the Good News is now fulfilled.
In Isaiah 52, the watchmen see the messenger coming with Good News; and lifts their voices with joy.The messenger has arrived, the Good News is heard:
The passage concludes with these directions “Depart. Go out from there...The Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” (Is 52:12)
Are you ready to depart? To go out with God before you and behind?
Have you heard the Good News?
Are your feet fit with the Gospel of Christ?
Are you ready to be God’s feet and to follow God’s leading?
Do you hear God’s call, “Awake, Church! Awake, Altoona District!”?
Where will the message of the Good News take your feet?
