Yoked With God And All Oppressed People
The God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, you shall have no other gods before me.”
~ Exodus 20: 1-3
When Israel was in Egypt’s land, Let my people go;
Oppressed so hard they could not stand, Let my people go.
No more shall they in bondage toil, Let my people go;
Let them come out with Egypt’s spoil, Let my people go.
We need not always weep and moan, Let my people go;
And wear these slavery chains forlorn, Let my people go.
Go down Moses, way down in Egypt’s land;
tell old Pharaoh to let my people go!
~ African-American Spiritual
We will righteously struggle against racism because we believe that God is the creator of all people and all are God’s children in one family.
~ United Methodist Charter on Racial Justice Policies
God of infinite compassion, we live in times of turmoil.
Out of fear we seek to target and to blame the innocent.
Out of our ignorance we tolerate racist systems that oppress and demean our brothers and sisters.
God of justice, help us to resist all forms of racial profiling.
Confront our prejudices. Expand our understanding.
Strengthen our resistance.
Help us to resist the urge to protect ourselves at the expense of others.
Remind us that all people are ultimately yours.
This we pray, in the name of the Christ. Amen
~ Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook
Where cross the crowded ways of life,
where sound the cries of race and clan,
above the noise of selfish strife,
we hear your voice, O Son of man.
In haunts of wretchedness and need,
on shadowed thresholds dark with fears,
from paths where hide the lures of greed,
we catch the vision of your tears.
~ Frank Mason North, 1903
The world needs more than the secret holiness of individual inwardness. It needs more than sacred sentiments and good intentions. God asks for the heart because God needs the lives. It is by lives that the world will be redeemed, by lives that beat in concordance with God, by deeds that out-beat the finite charity of the human heart.
~ Abraham Joshua Heschel
For the healing of the nations, Lord, we pray with one accord;
for a just equal sharing of the things that earth afford;
to a life of love in action help us rise and pledge our word.
Lead us forward into freedom; from despair your world release,
that redeemed from war and hatred, all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness fear will die and hope increase.
All that kills abundant living, let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race, or schooling, dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice may we hallow life’s brief span.
~ Fred Kaan, 1965
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These reflections are for use during the week of March 7-13, 2021 and based on the lectionary for March 7.
Joyce D. Sohl
Joyce D. Sohl has been Laywoman-in-Residence since 2009 as a full-time volunteer. She retired as CEO of United Methodist Women in 2004. She is the author of 4 books, a teacher, retreat leader, writer and non-professional musician. Here at the Center her work is in the area of Spirituality & the Arts with such programs as Tuesdays in the Chapel, Vespers & All That Jazz, Poet’s Corner, quarterly retreats, and art exhibits.