The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:

First Reading: Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
Second Reading: I Corinthians 1:18-31
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

The liturgical color for the day is: Green

At one point last year, I went down a rabbit hole in trying to make sense of these dark times in our country.  I worked myself into a tizzy, and went to my boss, who I consider my pastor, for spiritual council.  He pretty much reminded me to stay the course.  That as a follower of Christ, whose sole mission is to proclaim the reconciliatory message of God to his created, my energy spent on discerning these times was making me lose site of the mission.

The Prophet Micah did the same for the Israelites, proclaiming: “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?”  For us in these dark times, nationally and globally, we must do the same.

To do justice, we must stand in the gap to help the weak and the poor.  In today’s economies that need is getting greater and wider between the have’s and have not’s.  Immigrants are treated as social pests that are being rid of.  The framework for liberty is being whittled down haphazardly, yet intentionally chaotic.

To love kindness, we must practice the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  These qualities represent Christ, whom we should imitate.  These are the change in our pocket that we spend on each other, and on strangers.  It gives us access to reach farther, to go deeper, to live intentionally in well-doing.

And to walk humbly, we must follow and abide at the Master’s side.  This is not a posture of shame or lowliness, but one of gratitude and worship that takes us to a higher sense of purpose and mission.  To be lead by and useful to the Creator, as he intended us to be fully and abundantly worthy of service is remarkable.  

I no longer spend time in that fruitless headspace of trying to determine the future, but rather spend time and energy in doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly.  It is, indeed, better.  It is, indeed, good.

—

Sandra Figueredo
Engagement Catalyst