"If they come for the innocent and do not pass over our bodies, then cursed be our religion." -An old Saint, name unknown.We must be standing between the oppressed and the oppressors, otherwise, what do we have to show for the Gospel Christ taught us? How else can we live as he told us to? What kind of faith would allow us to look the other way? He said turn the cheek, He didn't say look the other direction. Is it a valid excuse to say, "I didn't know"? No, It can't be. It's our job to know. It's our job to look into the eyes of the oppressors and say, "Here's my Jesus. He Loves you." And it's our job to look into the eyes of the oppressed and say, "The Kingdom of Heaven is here, it's time your weeping becomes laughter.(Lk 6:21)" We follow a God who is infuriated by oppression. We follow a God who came here to free us from the oppression of the law, a God who [has] indeed seen the misery of [His] people...[He has] heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and [He] is concerned about their suffering. So [He has](and did) come down to rescue them..(Ex. 3:7-8a)" This God we follow loves us and treasures us so much He has invited us to continue His work that he started way back in the beginning. We are people of an unseen kingdom. We are people of Jubilee. It is our job, through the teaching of Christ and the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, to reveal a Kingdom of Heaven to the world. To proclaim Jubilee. To break the chains, ring the bells, and protect those who can't protect themselves. We have not chosen to follow a God of complacency, we have chosen to follow a God of action, and because of that, we ourselves are called to act. We ourselves are called to stand. To stand against oppression, against sickness, against poverty, and against the evil one. We are called to stand for love. So what are we waiting for? It's time to stand. The kingdom of God is now. Let's open the eyes of the world and show them. -Amen
