Justice, and Mercy, and Faith
Matthew 23:22-25 – 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. 24 You blind
guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!
The past few weeks have brought us news stories that seem to run counter to our
sensibilities. We read of brutal tactics used by Immigration Enforcement, threats made by one nation against others, and economic instability. Friends and neighbors seem to be pitted against one another, with some taking the stance that federal enforcement is beating, kidnapping, and killing citizens, and others believing that those who don’t comply are acting in ways that require brutal tactics. People who once trusted the government are feeling betrayed, and those who felt betrayed by the government are feeling that law and order are being restored to our communities. The world is a complicated place.
In a time of great upheaval, we need to focus on God’s constant love for us and how we respond to that love. We need to ask ourselves what we need to do as God’s people in this place at this time. The first thing we need to do is to pray for guidance. We need to listen for God’s word to us at this time and place. To start, we should look at what Jesus tells his followers to do, and how he calls us to act. Then, as Christians, we should re-read the prophets and listen to what they tell us about what God requires of God’s people. With compassion, we should find ways to work for God’s justice in this world. We should find ways to stand with the outcast and share God’s love with our neighbors.
No one should be shot in the face and maimed or killed. No one should be dragged from their home in the middle of the night. No child should be deprived of a parent. But this is happening in our communities right now. How we respond as Christians will show the world what we believe. If we claim to be followers of Jesus, then we cannot condone violence and killing. If we claim to be followers of Jesus, then we cannot support families being torn apart because they do not have papers in order. If we claim to be followers of Jesus, then we must find ways to demonstrate that love in our communities. And, we are doing just that by supporting the needs of those who need to rebuild but cannot, and by providing immigrant support and worship in native languages.
These are difficult days, but God’s people have lived through them before and will most likely do so again. At this time, and in this place, we need to stand firm in our faith, move forward in justice, and share God’s mercy with everyone we see.