 My favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night. Each Christmas Eve I request that someone sing it. My favorite phrase is 'Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease.' How could the coming of the Christ Child dare to be proclaimed as the end to oppression and catalyst for justice across the entire world? Because he is going to address oppression where it begins - in the human heart. It can only be crushed by cleansing the heart of its need to exploit and deny the free will of another. I would love to say that this is a gift we have received in its fullness. But we all know that although the world has certainly changed for the better over the centuries, we have a long way to go until our world is characterized by a place where justice dwells for each person. There are a lot of voices calling for separation this season - separation of races, religions, political parties, police officers and civilians - to name a few. But nothing stings of injustice more than dehumanizing someone by treating a person as a category. All justice is ultimately individual justice. If we are going to enjoy a world where justice reigns, we must stop looking at someone else to change things. We can't look to institutions and power to do our work for us. It will only be individually and through influence that the human heart changes. It comes as OUR hearts are transformed. It can come no other way. So the next time you notice the words 'those people' come out of your mouth, remember that each and every one of 'those people' is a child of God who is loved just as much as you and I are. Question of the Day: What is your favorite Christmas song?
3 Comments
Dave
12/17/2014 05:33:23 am
So very true and something we as individual Christians and then collectively as Girard First UMC need to be aware of and then do what we can as individuals and as a group to make it better. I, you, we have to start somewhere and I believe there is no better place than in our own hearts and then together as one congregation.
Christine
12/11/2017 12:40:21 pm
O Holy Night is also my favorite Christmas song, with that same phrase being my favorite, although for a different reason. Yours is a good and true reason, and an additional one to love that phrase. I saw it differently until I read your article, that it was referring to those chained by sins. But perhaps that also covers the aspect you covered in the article, because those who oppress are also chained -- by wrong ideals, beliefs, ignorance, etc. Thanks for this article. :-) If I am going to answer your question, I guess I am going to answer "All I want for Christmas is you" by Mariah Carey. Well all of us have our own Christmas wishers and I understand you for wanting for justice for everyone. How I wish it is that easy to wish for a legitimate justice that can serve everyone regardless of several factors like age, gender, race, and beliefs. Let's admit the fact that there's still a discrimination and justice is not yet for everyone. I am hoping that we will all learn to practice that! Leave a Reply. |
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