Do What is Required of YOU!

In the book of Micah we read these words

“And what does the Lord require of you? To do justice , love kindness and walk humbly with your God.”

This was lived out by Jesus as he walked among us and is the ministry that was entrusted to us.

Racism Exists in OUR own Communities

These words have been surfacing for me this week as I have listened to and read the many articles about racism. The situation that has gained the spotlight – the death of George Floyd at the hands of authorities – is one that raised for us the issue of racism that exists in our own communities. This Sunday we will look a little more closely at this as we reflect on the call of the gospel and our responsibility to live lives that reflect Divine love.

This is disturbing, to say the least and yet it is the reality within which we live. Regardless of the injustice, the fact that these things exist should enrage us and should compel us to speak up, to confront and eradicate them. Now some might say, “I did not know” or “ Surely this is not a problem in our town!” and we simply do not see.

It is a wonderful defense … Or is it?

While it may work for us for a while it does not help the situation. In fact our blindness perpetuates a culture and an atmosphere where injustice is able to grow even deeper roots. And when we do see and do nothing, our silence feeds this monster in a way that it gains strength and becomes an even greater destructive force in our midst. In Theological terms one might say that this is what evil looks like and the manifestation of this evil takes over as it grows. The only response to any of this is “Love’. A love that has the courage to speak up, to act and to live in such a way that the evil is not permitted to breathe. Without breath it cannot grow and it will die!

As people who have consciously chosen to follow in the footsteps of Jesus we must do as he did. The example we have is one that speaks truth to power, opens doors of possibility for all people; breaks down barriers that divide, speaks words of healing and hope and reconciliation. This is the mission that we now must embody as individuals and as a faith community.

In recent responses from the United church of Canada regarding racism Moderator Richard Bott writes: “I am asking people in the United Church to delve into this topic individually and at church boards. If we don’t look at this issue and realize we are part of the problem, we can’t be part of the solution. This is the work of White members of the church, and the time has come to commit ourselves to this work, for everyone’s sake.”

I share with you this link to a letter written by the leaders of the United Church of Canada, The Anglican Church and Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada https://www.united-church.ca/sites/default/files/resources/elcic-acc-ucc_joint_letter-racism.pdf . As Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, The National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, and Moderator of The United Church of Canada we want to affirm our commitment to ending our silence about and working towards the dismantling of anti-Black racism.

I invite you to enter into dialogue with one another, open your eyes, and then do what is required of you

“To seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God.”

Blessings
Valerie