Advent Devotions

Today’s author is Prince of Peace member Paul Sponheim

Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.  Amos 5.24

I am struck by the boldness of the call for justice. There is an element of effusiveness in this call for justice. There is no one step forward and two steps back in this boldness. Indeed, this attitude actually has an almost celebratory character. It reminds me of standing in the light rain in Chicago’s Grant Park in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected President for the first time. It is celebratory!

Now we have a Black man in the office of Presiding Bishop for the ELCA. I think it was Minneapolis Bishop Jen Nagel who was widely quoted over this new election when she said, “The question is whether the church lives up to this future.” I think Bishop Nagel has the right question. The country and the church have made some progress in living into the story of Barack Obama. The verdict is still out on the ELCA.

In my 95 years I have been made glad by first steps taken towards justice. We shall see how the church in particular does this time out.

A second comment has to do with a factual launching pad for social justice. Amos brings such a factual launching pad to his prophetic mission. He mentions specific instances of injustice that call for correction. “You say there’s worship of other Gods? Let me show you their altars.” 

Take away the secrecy from the doings of abusers.

The specificity of the identification of injustice is particularly powerful in the treatment of the poor. If you want to know how the church is doing, go talk to the poor. 

A third comment has to do with the leadership in any social justice venture. At the top there needs to be none other than Godself. Amos does provide that assurance that God will be there to bring about the justice sought. A specific aspect of that powerful presence has to do with our language for God.

 I submit to you that the key issue is whether love is in place as the key category in God talk. In chapter 5 of John’s gospel, Jesus is criticized for healing on the Sabbath. His response is to say, “My father is still working and I also am working.” We have no need to question the efficacy of God’s effort. This devotion is a new challenge to let ourselves be caught up by the Holy Spirit into an active “Yes!” to the strong imperatives Amos delivers. our world, having access to you, your love and your guidance all along the way. 

Prayer

O God,
Open our eyes that we may see the needs of others;
Open our ears that we may hear their cries;
Open our hearts that we may feel their anguish and their joy.
Let us not be afraid to defend the oppressed, the poor, the powerless, because
of the anger and might of the powerful.
Show us where love and hope and faith are needed, and use us to bring them to
those places.
Open our ears and eyes, our hearts and lives, that we may in these coming days
be able to do some work of justice and peace for you. Amen.

(Prayers for Refugess, the Sabeel Center, Jerusalem, posted by the United Church of Christ “Engaging Our Faith“.)