Justice, Mercy and Faith

‘But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. ‘Woe to you, blind guides, who say, “Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.” You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? And you say, “Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.” How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it. ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel! ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. Matthew 23:13-26

Years ago, when I was serving in Southern Virginia, I had a conversation with Bishop Walter Dennis. He was retired then and had returned to Hampton, VA. We were preparing for a service together, and as we talked it brought us to a conversation about the House of Bishops. Much was shared and then I asked Walter if he was attending the next House meeting. He was emphatic. "They want us to talk about reconciliation, but there can be no real reconciliation without justice!" His words have always stayed with me. We must be living and doing justice, otherwise we are not doing God's work. I have carried his words with and often ask myself, if what I am doing brings about justice, mercy and faith.

Wonderful Creator, your heart is justice

you have mercy on every one of us

you instill us with faith and strength

so that we might carry your loving justice.

We want our own ways and forget you

too easily we satisfy our wants above others

we miss the chance to bring hope in darkness

and we leave aside those we cannot understand.

Help us to be restored to a childlike faith

teach us to share with those in need

let us laugh with the lonely, feed the hungry

living out your justice, mercy and faith. Amen