A girdle is a garment wrapped around a person's lower torso. A person may wear one for aesthetic purposes (forming the body into a
particular shape) or to support and strengthen the lower back. In ancient times it was a symbol of strength and power.
The strength and power of
the promised figure in Isaiah shall be righteousness and faithfulness. Unfortunately, righteousness and faithfulness have recently received a bad rap. Often we associate “righteousness” with stuffiness and judgment. “Faithfulness” or fidelity is considered old-fashioned and inconvenient. We are the Netflix browsing generation that spends more time scrolling through the options than actually watching any movies. We have commitment issues.
Righteousness, in the Biblical context, means being right with God. It means that our conduct is in accordance with God's will and that we have sought forgiveness and repented when we have gone astray.
Faithfulness means living out our commitment to God, no matter what. But what is God's will? God yearns for our peace and the justice that attains it. God longs for our deepest well-being. God loves us with all his being, and his every desire for us comes from that love.
No wonder righteousness and faithfulness are the strength and power of God's promised ones. Living according to God's will means living out of his love for us. Fidelity to God means committing to what is best for ourselves and others. It means committing to a meaningful life, a life lived in closeness with God and service to others. It is an invitation to both personal and
societal transformation. How strengthening it is to know that our lives are grounded in and flowing from the love and Mercy of God!
Reflect on how
you understand the words righteousness and faithfulness. What do they mean to you? Are you committed to living closely with God? Are you faithful to the Gospel call to make the world a more just place?
