HOW DO I MAKE IT RIGHT? Doing Justice in a Broken World by Tracy Young
Chapter 2 Preparing the Way - Mary's Song
Luke 1:52-53 MSG
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
Mary. Ordinary. Humble. Young and overwhelmed. What in the world was happening? God in her? Yet Mary didn't let all this go to her head. She didn't get an inflated ego or think SHE was God. And we can tell from her song of rejoicing, she realized early that her offspring would be a different kind of king: a leader of justice and mercy, a champion of the downtrodden and the forgotten. She is an unexpected agent of change - change that will come in unexpected ways. Because that's how God works!
God uses a young, unmarried woman - probably a teen - to help change the course of history....Mary has no great significance in the eyes of [her] world. But through her servanthood and her joyful obedience to God, she ushers in the One who brings healing and salvation. She rejoices in the God who turns the tables of power and influence to lift up the weakest, the poorest, and the least. (TY)Is there a 'Mary' inside each of us? One who can be an unexpected agent of change? One who can turn the tables of injustice and champion those on the edge? If we open ourselves to the power of God working through us, what are the possibilities?
Lord, today may I live the Light, may I walk the words, may I BE what I write. Amen.
THURSDAY, January 16
HOW DO I MAKE IT RIGHT? Doing Justice in a Broken World
by Tracy Young
Chapter 2 Preparing the Way -Joseph
Matthew 1:18-21 GNT
This was how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they were married, she found out that she was going to have a baby by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph was a man who always did what was right, but he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly; so he made plans to break the engagement privately. 20 While he was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife. For it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived. 21 She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus—because he will save his people from their sins.”
Joseph. Righteous. Honorable. One who 'does right'. Yet Joseph is
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| Gaulli's painting: Joseph & the Infant Christ Is this what obeying God looks like? |
Yet Joseph doesn't do the expected. He does what God asks. He obeys. Despite what his culture says is right. He takes the infant on as his own to nurture and love. So much is written about Mary carrying God's child, I wonder if we fail to acknowledge Joseph for his sacrifices.
God often calls us to make such sacrifices to honor his call for justice. He asks us to obey and sometimes go against the grain of culture and expectations. Is there a Joseph inside of me, willing to buck the comfortable and easy, willing to obey?
"Joseph claimed this child as father to son because that was what the Lord expected of him. The path of Jesus often cuts right through cultural expectations and societal norms, calling us to cast aside our own notion of what is right and good in favor of what God calls right and good." (TY)Lord, today may I live the Light, may I walk the words, may I BE what I write. Amen.
FRIDAY, January 17
HOW DO I MAKE IT RIGHT? Doing Justice in a Broken World
by Tracy Young
Chapter 2 Preparing the Way -Zechariah and Elizabeth
Luke 1:13-14 GNT
But the angel said to him, “Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You are to name him John.14 How glad and happy you will be, and how happy many others will be when he is born!
God can make incredible things happen. No doubt about it. Zechariah, while of an affluent and priestly nature, was in the dumps because he was childless. God said it would happen. Zechariah's initial response? 'No way, God! Not possible!' But he obeyed. And John happened.
Our initial response to our individual power to do justice? Our belief that we can make a difference in a very troubled world? 'No way, God! The mess is too big!' Not gonna happen! But that is the big picture that we cannot see. God simply needs our faith and obedience. God simply needs our hands and voices in which to work.
Am I a bit of a Zechariah at times? Do I doubt my ability to be an agent of change through God? Do I doubt God's ability to make it happen? How 'happy the world will be' when we obey and let God go to work!
Lord, today may I live the Light, may I walk the words, may I BE what I write. Amen.
SATURDAY, January 18
HOW DO I MAKE IT RIGHT? Doing Justice in a Broken World
by Tracy Young
Chapter 2 Preparing the Way -The Announcement
Matthew 2:1-3 CEB
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. 2 They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.”
3 When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him.
Herod. Rich and mighty. Powerful. He has been challenged and threatened by the news of a royal birth. Poor Herod. He has no idea of just how challenged he is! He has no concept of the scope of this birth. God is at work through the usual God channels: unexpected and lowly, foreigners. Shepherds and magi. The magi/kings traveled by star light. They traveled on hope and a vision of something new. They did not expect a tiny baby of humble birth any more than Herod.
What are my expectations? God announced the coming Messiah to peasant farmers and shepherds; foreigners and immigrants. The Messiah of justice and change. Am I ready to listen? Am I ready to act? Am I ready to obey?
Chapter 2 Preparing the Way - John the Baptist
Matthew 3:1-3 MSG
Chapter 2 Preparing the Way - John the Baptist
Matthew 3:1-3 MSG
1-2 While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called “the Baptizer,” was preaching in the desert country of Judea. His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”
3 John and his message were authorized by Isaiah’s prophecy:
Thunder in the desert!
Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!
Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!
And finally....John the Baptist. Eccentric with strange clothing. Eater of bugs! A hermit! One who shouted 'Repent'!! Picture the corner homeless man in a big city with his signs of doomsday. Yet people flocked to hear John, while we avoid the peculiar and odd behavior of street folk. Why??
While John preached repentance, he also preached action. God didn't want just the words. God wanted DOING. And God still wants this today. Our words aren't enough, we must live them.
Lord, today may I live the Light, may I walk the words, may I BE what I write. Amen.
SUNDAY, January 19
HOW DO I MAKE IT RIGHT? Doing Justice in a Broken World
by Tracy Young
Chapter 2 Preparing the Way: Contemplation and Questions
Isaiah 11:1-5 (portions) MSG
A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse’s stump,from his roots a budding Branch.......
He won’t judge by appearances,
won’t decide on the basis of hearsay.
He’ll judge the needy by what is right,
render decisions on earth’s poor with justice.......
Each morning he’ll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots,
and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.
This was one of the suggested discussion scriptures for today. My favorite line is the way Eugene Peterson translates verse 5: 'He'll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, and build righteousness...." Justice can be a full time job. It isn't pretty or easy. It doesn't 'just happen' - it is constructed piece by piece. Sounds like a Habitat build.
How often do I cynically voice the "No way, can't be done." philosophy in regard to what appears to be an impossible task? How often do I avoid the uncomfortable or unconventional because I don't want to hear it? Or perhaps most frequently, how often do I talk the talk and let it stop there?
PREPARING FOR JUSTICE: Heart, Head, and Hands....
Heart: Scripture study, meditation and prayer
Head: Educating myself on justice issues and their causes
Hands: Volunteer! Write letters! Physically get involved.
OPTIONS FOR PERSONAL ACTION
1. Go through the newspaper or listen to the news attuned to stories that focus on a person or group who may be struggling for justice. PRAY for them. ASK if there is a way to advocate on their behalf....a letter? Phone call?
2. Learn more about The Micah Challenge, a global Christian movement to overcome extreme poverty. Something to join and support? Find out! I have pasted one clip from the website below.
www.micahchallenge.org
8 MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS)
In 2000, 189 nations made a promise to free people from extreme poverty by 2015. This promise turned into the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We're the international hub of Micah Challenge representing a global coalition of Christians holding governments accountable for these promises to the poor. We seek to empower Christians to speak out for justice and to turn compassion into action.
eradicate extreme poverty
AND HUNGER
ACHIEVE
UNIVERSAL PRIMARY
EDUCATION
PROMOTE GENDER
EQUALITY AND
EMPOWER WOMEN
REDUCE
CHILD
MORTALITY
IMPROVE MATERNAL
HEALTH
COMBAT HIV,
MALARIA AND
OTHER DISEASES
ENSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
DEVELOP A GLOBAL
PARTNERSHIP FOR
DEVELOPMENT
ADDENDUM from Sunday Worship
Lord, today may I live the Light, may I walk the words, may I BE what I write. Amen.
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