My apologies for not getting a post up for Sunday. It was a rough day but I do have a Sunday Sermon for you. It’s titled “A Message for Peace and Justice” and it was an incredible sermon given by my pastor, Suzanne Andrews. I have her permission to post it here on my blog to share. The message I feel is deep and needs to be said and should be shared.
“A Message for Peace and Justice”
The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5:6,7,9
Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them:
Happy are those whose greatest
desire is to do what God requires;
God will satisfy them fully!
Happy are those who are merciful to others;
God will be merciful to them.
*Happy are those who work for peace;
God will call them his children!
Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
Luke 4:16-19
Then Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up,
and on the Sabbath, he went as usual to the synagogue.
He stood up to read the Scriptures and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written,
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind,
And to set free the oppressed.
This weekend we celebrate July 4th with fireworks, cook-outs and family gatherings. As we hang out our American flags and get out our sparklers, our hearts are once again filled with love for our country and we are grateful for the many blessings God has given us.
But as we know, Liberty comes at a cost and Freedom is paid with a price. We celebrate July 4th for our unalienable rights – but what is right and what is wrong with our country today?
I have to be honest – this was a difficult sermon to prepare, and it may be a difficult sermon to hear because this message is all about Peace and Justice.
For some reason, we seem to think that Peace and Justice are really political issues that we should leave to political people – because, after all, we, The Beloved Community, are a people of faith.
Well, if that is the way you feel – then this is the time to take a long look at what’s happening around us.
So, today, I want you to listen to my words not as a Democrat or a Republican, not as a Conservative or a Liberal, but simply as a Christian who seeks to follow in the ways of Jesus.
A darkness is spreading over our land as we tremble at the sight of injustice. We shudder at the evil growing around us, and wonder what is happening to our country and our world. And then, we realize that we need to fight – fight! For Justice and Equality, not only for one another – but for everyone.
I believe that to have Justice, we need to speak out. The poor, the oppressed and the Alien have no voice in this world. It is up to us to speak for them. But sadly, before we get the courage to speak out, many of us ask ourselves these questions: “Is it safe to speak out? Will someone look down upon me if I speak out for what is right? Will I be criticized, ostracized for saying what I believe in?”
Maybe the question we should be asking ourselves is this, “How will I feel if I don’t speak up against injustice? How can I live with myself when I see what is going on around me?”
And then we might realize that there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe nor popular. That we need to take a stand because our conscience tells us it’s the right thing to do.
Let me share with you a story about my friend, Hannah, who had taken a Mission trip to Israel and Palestine. As we sat at Starbucks, sipping our coffee, she didn’t talk about all of the amazing places she visited – all she could talk about was the daily injustices experienced by the Palestinian people. She said that there is nothing fair or just about their situation.
Their land has been stolen, their movement restricted, their homes and crops destroyed, their water cut off, their young children arrested and detained. Their women raped. She said that the injustices they face on a day-to-day basis are unimaginable.
And then, my friend started crying. I thought she was moved by their plight, but when I asked her what was wrong, she said that she has never felt so passionate about anything like this before. And that in her own, small way she was working to bring justice to a people who were so oppressed.
This was a new Calling for her. She said that speaking on behalf of Palestinians is not popular. She has been called anti-Semitic; it has caused a strain in some of her personal and family relationships. But she said, “Sue, I’m not backing down, and I’m not going to be quiet. I’m learning that speaking out often has a cost, but as a Christian, for me, not speaking out has a greater cost.”
She reminded me that during Jesus’ life, there were times when he was a hero and times when he was despised. Many people scorned and ridiculed him, but that didn’t stop our Lord. You see, ministry, in the name of God, is not a matter of popularity – it’s about speaking the truth, as you understand it, and as you think God wants you to say it.
The world we live in is full of people who suffer injustice. We don’t have to look very far. Injustice is all around us, but you, I, can do something about it.
We can speak out. But who will we speak out for? Will it be the Aliens in our country who are looked upon with suspicion and being deported without “Just Cause?” Will we speak out for the young black men who are targeted simply because of the color of their skin? Will we speak out for a gay or lesbian person because their lifestyle doesn’t fit into the “norm?” Will we speak out for the children who are bullied at school or the abused, the neglected, the forgotten?
People suffering from injustice are all around us and they are waiting for us to take a stand and speak out on their behalf, because we are followers of Jesus and we know the difference between right and wrong.
I realize I have spent a lot of time talking about in-justice – but here’s the thing. Without Justice, there can be no Peace. And without Peace, there is only discouragement and despair. But there’s Hope! In the Bible there are thousands of verses about Peace, Justice and Poverty and when we read about these things, we discover that God wants us to do something.
Our God has a deep compassion toward the poor, the oppressed and the Alien. In our Gospel reading today, Jesus lays out very clearly his mission when at the synagogue at Nazareth as he opened the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah and read: “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 for the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed go free.” You see, Jesus was all about caring for those in need and seeking justice – and if we are his followers, that should be our mission too.
Every human being matters. If you are a follower of the Man called Jesus, you have been given the charge to speak out – to bring Good News to the poor, proclaim release for the captives, and allow the oppressed to go free.
We are called to be the voice of Justice and Peace in this world. But we can’t do this alone. Mandella said, “Each one of us is too little, but together we have the power.”
Remember what Doctor Martin Luther King said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” And I think that many of us have been far too silent for far too long.
Our persecuted brothers and sisters are waiting for our support. Should we say, “We can’t win that battle?” Shall we say the struggle is too hard? Will we send our deepest regrets to those suffering because of bad Political decisions – or will we send a message of hope, of solidarity, of unity to the world?
Have the courage to stand up for what you believe is right! Go and make some noise! Be fearless in your determination to make a difference in the world! Dr. King was arrested, attacked by the authorities, ridiculed, and just like Jesus, he didn’t give up. He said, “No matter what the odds, we must Press on.’
“Press on for our families. Press on for our country. Press on for our middle class and for all who are oppressed. Press on for the poor. Press on for the sick and the marginalized. Press on for the least of these. Press on for the lost. Press on for justice and truth and the rule of Law!”
He said, “No matter what the odds we must Press on. If you can’t fly then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk then crawl but keep on going at all times and “Press on! Press on and keep Pressing on for the afflicted. Press on for the sick, press on for the least of these and for the lost. Press on for the American way of life. Press on for Democracy. And Press on until Victory is won.”
Then, and only then, will there be Peace and Justice on this earth.
Amen
Thank you for taking the time to read Pastor Sue’s sermon. Sometimes we really do wonder and ask ourselves “Do I? Don’t I? Should I? Shouldn’t I? and we end up standing to the side because we are unsure of what action to take in the name of justice. I might add that this past Sunday an injustice was done to a fellow congregant and I did make the decision to step in and change the situation. I’m glad I did and the feeling that Jesus was there beside me saying “This action was wrong, this poor woman was being taken advantage of, and right was made.” Reaching out and doing the right thing for the right reasons even when if feels uncomfortable makes a difference. I pray God touches you to step up to injustice, make a wrong right and help those who are in need, even if it makes for an uncomfortable feeling at first.
Injustice is too prevalent in this world to day. Make the choice and be the action and stand up and make the wrongs done to others change!
Where The Grace Is 
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