Luke 18:1-8 (lectionary text for Oct. 20)
Along with a lesson to persistently pester God for what one needs, I believe there is a lesson here about faith and how to approach a judge - both just and unjust.
The judge had no fear of God and no respect for people. There were many judges like that in the time of empire, for how they judged worked to promote empire and themselves, rather than working to make justice thrive in the lives of those under empire. People understood this story well, for there were many judges who feared only a loss of wealth, power or status for themselves and who had no love or respect for anyone else and ignored God. I believe we live in such an age now, under empire.
What one can do in the face of such an unjust judge, is to demand justice - persistently, consistently, constantly, publicly - to pester the judge in public and expose the works of injustice, call it what it is and thus demand justice. Like a widow, you may feel powerless over an unjust system. You are not. Exposing, shaming and demanding that justice be restored are powerful actions, especially when sisters and brothers come together to face the unjust powers. Do the right thing for the right reasons - that ALL may have justice and thus have Shalom.
Rest assured, God is the God of justice. Cry out to God persistently. Pester God when suffering because of injustice. Lift it up. Actively address the judge(s) publicly and ask God for help in the face of injustice. Invoke God's name on those who would like to forget what God (in Jesus) has commanded, taught and modeled for us.
And remember, when the Son of Man comes back, He will judge the living and the dead. The Son will judge and the judgment given will be just. There will be justice and with it there will be accountability. And will the Son of Man find people of faith who have been active in the pursuit of justice under unjust systems, faithful to the resistance that Jesus modeled and taught?
Do not suffer injustice silently. Actively address the injustice, publicly.
Do not give up, but persistently and publicly expose the injustice.
Lift it up to the judge of all the living and dead, the judge of all things, who is just.
Empire is unjust.
If we are to be a just people, we must be people of the Kingdom of God and its values.
Resist the ways of empire and even the benefits you may receive from them, for the sake if justice and peace - Shalom.
Demand justice, publicly. And not just for yourself - stand with others who are suffering injustice -
loudly, proudly and regularly... it is the ONLY way to challenge the injustices of empire.
And Pray to the God of justice and peace, who provides Shalom, and who will listen and walk with you in that resistance.
Pastor Jamie
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