Justice

A Communion Worship in a Spirited Lutheran Fashion.

ELCA Assembly (18 August 2009) 11:30 A.M.
We gathered and chorused the traditional Russian Orthodox “Holy God, ... have mercy on us” around each confessional petition, beginning,

For self-centered living,
and for failing to walk with humility and gentleness...

followed by the proclamation of the forgiveness and Canticle of Praise.

Readings of the Word began with Micah 6.1-8, followed by Psalm 15. Bridging from the first through the second, we sang the 2009 Refrain by Paul Friesen-Carper. We acclaimed the Gospel with alleluias and heard Luke 4.16-21.

Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God.

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God? - Mic. 6.8

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart... – Ps. 15.1-2

Jesus reads from Isaiah 61.1-2:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Pastor Megan Torgerson of St. Paul preached on Justice.

Justice! The word is even nice to say, so sibilant – justice. How can anyone argue with justice? But there is a darker, sneaky side when we say justice, but think vengeance. With vengeance, justice shrinks to the return of loss for loss, an eye for an eye. Vengeance tastes sour and catches guttural in the throat – vengeance.

Micah tells that God wants justice too. Be wary, God’s justice is dangerous. Isaiah tells of freedom and the rest by which we receive what we cannot even expect. What God gives is to slow down and walk with us, a kindness granted to each one and to the neighbor.

And so we sang, “Come! Live in the light!” before proceeding to the Eucharist, singing the while the lyric “Here Is Bread,” the serene “Cuando el pobre/When the Poor Ones,” and the swinging “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” The Sending hymn to the majestic music of Gustav Holst had apt words new to me, “Let Streams of Living Justice Flow.”

And so came the dismissal: Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Remember the poor.

Thanks be to God!