How Do We Seek Justice - Good Question For Every Advent Day

This thought-provoking excerpt is from Linnea Nilsen Capshaw of Deep Shift:

..."How do we seek Justice?"

This Advent Season is important as we anticipate the birth of Jesus and as we contemplate this question.Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of Thomas Merton's death.

This excerpt is from Joan Chittister's book, Merton: The Enlightened Heart:

"Merton sowed seeds of contemplation that led to action---an often forgotten but always bedrock spiritual concept. In Jewish spirituality, for instance, two concepts dominate and are intertwined: The one, devekut, translates as "clinging to God" or contemplation; the other, tikkun o'lam, translates "repairing the world" the work of justice.

One without the other---contemplation without justice, clinging to mystery without repairing the real world---is unfinished, the tradition teaches, is dark without light, is grand without great, is soul without body. Contemplation, Merton teaches us, is learning to see the world as God sees the world. The contemplative sees the world through the eyes of God and the real contemplative is driven to respond according to the mind of God for it. Clinging to God, in other words, generates the passion it takes to repair the world."

These Jewish concepts and the Christian concepts Merton discusses are similar to a challenging New Testament scripture passages: Faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Just as clinging to God without working for justice is unfinished, so too our faith without works is dead. After participating in 12 EMC Tour stops this year, I cannot stop thinking about the question in the song, "How do we seek Justice?", knowing that it requires contemplation and action, clinging and works.

The book, To Do Justice: A Guide for Progressive Christians, by Peters and Hinson-Hasty, provides some instruction and ideas on how to seek justice, to repair the world. Here are some quotes that are inspiring me as I begin reading:

"The mission of the church in the public forum is to continue the work of healing, restoration, and reconciliation within God's creation.In this book we articulate a vision for how churches can be engaged with public life in ways that help address social problems in our world. Along the way we share with you critical social analysis of these same problems. We ground our suggestions for action in a theology that challenges Christians to love their neighbors by addressing their concrete material needs and by transforming the structures in our society that prevent them from making ends meet and flourishing in the way that God hopes for all creation.Living as Christians in a pluralistic world requires that we work together with other people of faith and the larger community to address the social problems that hinder people from living lives of fullness and integrity."

As you wait this year to celebrate the birth of Jesus, I hope you take time to contemplate, cling to God, so you may see where you are called to work with others for justice, to repair the world.

Deep peace and joy to you,
Linnea