Day 5

‘See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.’
1 Thessalonians 5.15

Reflection
As God’s people, we are called to eavesdrop on the world with God’s ears, and to listen with God’s attentiveness. We’re called to hear the cries of the oppressed and the needy. We’re called to pay attention to the wrongs that surround us. And we’re called to respond with God’s sense of justice.

That justice was made flesh in Jesus. Jesus was always ready to ignore the prevailing priorities of his society when he saw the dignity of his neighbours destroyed. When he encountered hostility from the comfortable, the complacent and the powerful, he never repaid evil with evil, but responded with a costly love.

Prayer
I’m lazy sometimes, God. Sitting comfortably here, it’s easy to ignore the suffering of others, easy to forget the challenge to see your image in friend and stranger, easy to expect others to work for justice.

I’m lazy sometimes, God, and that diminishes me. Make me uncomfortable, make me alert, make me responsive. Above all, make me love, in your name. Amen.

Action
What are the injustices around you that make you angry? How can you respond without vindictiveness to bring God’s transforming love to those situations?

Readings
Exodus 3.1–12
God hears the cry of the Israelites

Psalm 146
Justice for the oppressed

James 2.1–8
Making distinctions

Matthew 5.38–42
Offer no resistance to one who is evil