Monday October 19th, 2015 St. Luke, Evangelist Amos 5:6-7,10-15
Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious? (verse 15)
As Lutherans, we trust that God will be gracious. We often think of God’s grace towards our individual faults and flaws. But the Hebrew scriptures often point to God’s attitude to an entire people, the habits of a society.
Amos’ message to the Israelites is particularly concerned with the treatment of the poor, “trampled” within their communities. Amos has a long list of afflictions that will fall upon the perpetrators, but he ends with the familiar promise of God’s grace.
There are often social and political problems that seem out of our control. We live within a society with laws and an economy with big players that may or may not be just. As a whole, our society will always be in need of God’s grace. But we can always work on our own and as community to discern what is good and to establish justice, trusting in God’s grace. Where do we find God’s goodness at work in our society? Where do we as a larger people need God’s grace?
Gracious God, keep us humble and mindful of your desire for peace and justice above all. May your goodness guide our actions in this world as we evaluate the workings of the human kingdom in which we live. Amen. — RL
Contributed by Big Problems, Big Grace
As Lutherans, we trust that God will be gracious. We often think of God's grace towards our individual faults and flaws. But the Hebrew scriptures often point to God's attitude to an entire people, the habits of a society.
Amos' message to the Israelites is particularly concerned with the treatment of the poor, "trampled" within their communities. Amos has a long list of afflictions that will fall upon the perpetrators, but he ends with the familiar promise of God's grace.
There are often social and political problems that seem out of our control. We live within a society with laws and an economy with big players that may or may not be just. As a whole, our society will always be in need of God's grace. But we can always work on our own and as community to discern what is good and to establish justice, trusting in God's grace. Where do we find God's goodness at work in our society? Where do we as a larger people need God's grace?
