Isaiah's words today are a strong reminder that our thoughts may not be God's thoughts, nor our ways God's ways. Nowadays, we do not have any real concept of sacrifice, especially the sacrifice of animals to God. In earlier ages, however, people easily believed such sacrifices would win divine favour. Though we live in a different world with a religious culture quite different from that faced by Isaiah, the thrust of what he has to say is always important: there should never be any dichotomy between religion and justice. The other prophets, particularly Amos, also preached this message. If we still have not got the message, we must reflect whether we are truly sensitive to the demanding yet liberating truth of God.

"Cease doing evil, learn to do good." If accepted unconditionally, such a simple formula could advance the cause of a peaceful and just world. When the prophet calls upon us to cease doing evil, there is a strong condemnation there, an affirmation that much of what we do is evil. When he calls upon us to learn to do good, perhaps he is implying that doing good is not something that comes immediately and spontaneously: it is something that must be learned.