Raise Justice from the Dust

Week Four: March 4-10

Luke 17:1-6
Jesus said to his disciples, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.”

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

By Rev. Lillian Smith, Pastor of Cheverly UMC in Cheverly.

I refuse to accept the idea that the ‘isness’ of man’s present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal ‘oughtness’ that forever confronts him.

It is hard to believe that Dr. King was assassinated over 50 years ago. We have benefited from what he and others did for justice. Our country is increasingly multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual. As is the case in the town of Cheverly, where I minister, many of our neighborhoods reflect diverse populations. Our children’s social networks span the entire globe. As I write, seated in an area mall, I’m surrounded by God’s beautiful multi-colored people.

While great strides have been made, all is not well. Racism increases. A rally in Charlottesville, Va., and a prayer meeting at Mother Emmanuel AME Church in S.C., resulted in the death of numerous people. Both incidents were incited by racial hatred.

Seeds of racism sprout poison that spreads. We Christians can combat racism. We are God’s light in the world. If we don’t engage racist beliefs, what hope does the world have? May God forgive us and help us overcome prejudiced and racist tendencies.

Defined as “prejudice plus power,” racism is a human construct that suggests the existence of various species of humans, with varying value assigned by color. There is only one human race. No one is to be judged by the color of his or her skin.

This mother of African-American boys and “other mother” of other young men of color, prays daily for their well-being and safety. Far too many of them fall prey to racial hatred. Too many boys, young men and adult males of color seem to be judged by the color of their skin, not the content of their character.

I’m holding out hope and working for change. I pray, “Lord, protect our boys and all children in schools. Replace violence, hatred and racism in our nation with your love, peace, and justice.”  Like Dr. King, I refuse to believe “that we are morally incapable of reaching up for the ‘oughtness’ that confronts us.” Let us work for change. Let us learn to love others as God does. May God’s Holy Spirit trouble and convict us when we miss the mark and use us to work for the “beloved community.”  So be it. Amen! 

Crosswalk 

 

Breathe

Love in Action… bring peace.
As you breathe in, say or think: “Love in action.” Experience God’s love in action in your breath and body. As you exhale, say or think: “bring peace.” Continue this breath prayer and on the exhale, name what needs peace (within you, your family, your congregation, your neighborhood, our denomination, our country, our world). Do this each day for at least 5 minutes. Notice how the Spirit ministers to and directs you.

Reflect
  1. The Rev. Lillian Smith, one of the authors of the Northeastern Jurisdiction’s “Call to Action for Racial Justice and Reconciliation,” reflects on King’s acceptance speech for the Noble Peace Prize. How do her thoughts resonate with your own?
  2. What role does forgiveness and repentance play in your life? In your faith community? In what part of your life today do you need this kind of “faith like a mustard seed?”
  3. In his Nobel acceptance speech, King talked about his audacious faith in the future of mankind and how he refuses to accept “the idea that the ‘isness’ of man’s present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal ‘oughtness’ that forever confronts him.” In what ideas do you have “audacious faith?” What “isness” in your community’s life are you excited about reaching upward and outward to change?
  4. From your observations of history and current events, do you believe “nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time?” Why or why not?
Create

Write a “creative psalm of brotherhood,” a poem about peace, or a spoken word piece about something this speech conjures up in you. Share your writing in the Facebook group. 

Lead

Great leaders understand that they operate on behalf of their movements or organizations instead of behaving as though the movement or organization is there to support them. Christ-following leaders are humble trustees and curators of unconditional love, grace, mercy, peace, unity, and justice. They understand that what they are being called to lead is greater than themselves and is dependent upon many more people then themselves. They often also know that the fullness of the vision will not come to pass within their lifetime so they must prepare the ground for folks who will follow them in leadership and also find ways to celebrate progress in the midst of the struggle. 

Navigate

Spend some time in deep prayer with those who are on this journey with you. Mark this time with praying through some scriptures, with hymns, and with times of asking God to reveal God’s vision for the destination selected for this leg of the journey. What adjustments to your planning do you need to make given this time of prayer? 

Pray

Omnipresent Sojourner and Omnipotent God, who gives us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind: we praise Your Holy Name and declare our faithfulness of Your Word. With You, all things are possible. With You, our strength is renewed daily to meet the opportunities and challenges of each day. Thank You for the gift of Your Almighty presence. Thank You for the gift of Your love that calls us to unconditionally love others. Thank You for being the Divine and Immutable Hope of the world that ever calls us to be salt and light in a world that may have forgotten its purpose and power for good. Thank You for breathing afresh on us in this moment. Shift us and the atmosphere by the power of Your Word until Your kingdom comes and Your Will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Every word You speak must come to pass. Speak Your Word. Speak, we wholeheartedly follow You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

 

*Photo of President Lyndon Johnson shakes hands with the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., after handing him one of the pens used in signing the Civil Rights Act of July 2, 1964 at the White House in Washington. Source: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division