June 07, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 81, 116, 143
Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 17:14-20
2 Corinthians 8:1-16
Luke 18:1-8

II. Selections
Psalm 81:5c-6
I hear a voice I had not known:
"I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket. ... "

Deuteronomy 16:20
Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and occupy the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

Luke 18:7
" ...And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? ... " [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: Justice and grace

Certainly you are a God of justice,
particularly of justice for the poor;
you grant justice to those who ask;
and you expect us to pursue justice.

But you are also a God of grace,
freeing the shoulders of slaves,
and their hands from the basket-
which was also an act of justice.

Your supreme act of grace
almost sounds like injustice;
for you sent Jesus who was rich,
and who for our sakes became poor,
that by his poverty we might become rich.