Justice

Focus

Our purpose and calling to love God and our neighbor starts with personal righteousness, moves into compassion and service, and ultimately extends to seeking justice in and around our communities. As you consider what this means for your relationship with Christ, use this passage from Amos 5 as a breath prayer.

Inhale: Let justice roll down like water;

Exhale: righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Listen

Ronald Rolheiser - The Holy Longing: The Search for Christian Spirituality

“Private charity responds to the homeless, wounded, and dead bodies, but it does not of itself try to get at the reasons why they are there. Justice tries to go up the river and change the reasons that create homelessness, wounded, and dead bodies.

Apply

How do you imagine the command to love God and love our neighbor plays into our purpose to work for justice and righteousness?

Why might Jesus have declared, “Woe to you Pharisees,” for keeping some elements of the law but neglecting the need for justice?

Can you imagine your role in seeking and fighting for Christ-centered justice in your community?

Respond

Close your time with this prayer:

Lord God, please guide me to love my neighbors through acts of justice and righteousness. Open my eyes and ears to those who are oppressed and marginalized. Free my hands and feet to serve and love them.

May Your justice roll down like waters, and Your righteousness flows like an ever-lasting stream. Amen.