How One Is Vindicated

In today's first reading, Isaiah 58: 1-9a God asks the prophet to tell the people their wickedness, and the house of Jacob their sins. They seek me day after day and wonder why I do not answer their prayers when, in fact, they have abandoned my law. They fast but continue to carry out their own pursuits. You  "drive all your laborers. ...[Y[our fast ends in quarreling and fighting, striking with wicked claw." The kind of fast which God wants of them and us is the following:

• "Releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke.
• Setting free the oppressed
• Breaking every yoke
• Sharing your bread with the hungry
• Sheltering the oppressed and the homeless
• Clothing the naked when  you see them
• Not turning your back on your own"

Have we  turned our backs on our own by gossiping, by being indifferent to the needs of one's spouse to be helped with the ordinary burdens of caring for the children, cooking the meals, cleaning the house, doing grocery shopping, helping the children with their homework, teaching and modeling the faith to the children and maintaining one's job so as to help support the family?  Are we actively involved in building relationships within the family, within one's religious community, within the diocese and/or parish?  When the opportunity presents itself, do we "share bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked"?  At work, in our communities and in our families and parishes,  do we  "set free the oppressed, release those bound unjustly, untie the thongs of the yoke"?  If we do these things, God says to us:  "Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound [of sin] shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you,  and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then  you shall call, and [I] will answer, you shall cry for help, and [I] will say: Here I am!"