Theme: Ritual versus righteousness

Exegetical Note
Trito-Isaiah, writing in the context of the early days of the return of the exiles from Babylon, expresses here the consternation of the people whose supplicatory fasting has had no effect, and delivers a scathing divine rejection of such routine ritual in favor of the acts of human liberation that God does find acceptable: freeing the oppressed, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, clothing the naked. For such righteous activity will bring the healing of God's presence.

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