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This year has depressed me. Before 2020, I thought we lived in a selfish and individualistic nation and unfortunately the past year has overwhelming proved my point. In the past year, Amazon doubled its profits and the poor got poorer and sicker. Generally speaking, as a nation we have displayed a depressing lack of sympathy and empathy. The past twelve months makes me so sad. We have seen a record number of deaths. We have seen a record number of homelessness. We have seen innocent lives lost. We have seen great racial and social unrest. We have experienced pain and suffering. We are a hurting nation and people on the outside and bottom of our economy have been the most devastated by this pandemic. See the link below.
The racial divide in this nation is striking. We must do better to serve people of color in our nation. The innocent deaths of so many black and brown individuals in this nation in the past year is depressing. The church is one organization that must lead to promote racial equity. Ideally if the church lead others will follow. The church must do better.
My views on racial equity stem from God through the actions of Jesus. God judged Israel by how they treated the aliens and poor in their lands. Likewise Jesus judged people by how they treated the the outcasts of society; the poor, the crippled, the lame, the sick, the hurting, and the blind. I am called to be and must be loving to those on the outside, the bottom, and outskirts of my community who are economically, physically, and emotionally hurting. I am reminded of this passage as I reflected on this issue.
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
(Luke 14)
May we be people who care about the outcasts in our society. May we not shame others for being sick and poor. May we be moved by compassion to do our part to bring about healing in our communities.
The Color of Coronavirus