On this first Sunday in Lent, we stand with Isaiah before a holy God in the temple at Jerusalem. Isaiah cries out, “Woe is me”, because sinful human beings cannot stand in the presence of our holy God and live. But God comes to Isaiah, even without his asking, as a seraph touches Isaiah on the lips with a live coal taken from temple altar. He is made clean, and now his lips will speak God’s Word to the world. We too, are made holy as the gospel brings us to faith, and we too are called to take the gospel as we journey to the cross with Jesus this Lent. [Lent 1]