In today’s Scriptures, we are told of upright individuals who unrelentingly and successfully pursued noble and just causes against the evil of oppression and injustice. The Book of Exodus gave us an account of a battle between the Israelites and the forces of Amalek. We’re told Moses stood upon a nearby hill, and with the help of his companions, held high his arms and his staff, and was able to empower his people who pushed back the enemy forces (see Exodus 17:8-13). In the Gospel, Jesus offered a parable in which we were told of an “unjust judge” and a “persistent widow.” Until she was satisfied, the widow tirelessly sought justice from the unscrupulous judge, who then because of her persistence eventually rendered a decision in her favor (see Luke 18:1-8).
These Scriptural accounts have much to say about the unending confidence of prayerful, spiritual, and God-fearing people. I believe they also indicate such faith-based people must never give up in their pursuit of true justice, especially for those who otherwise suffer from any kind of oppression.
It’s obvious Amalek and the “unjust judge” were Godless individuals who desired to abuse their power to the detriment of others. Amalek unjustly wanted to defeat the goodness of God and his people on the battlefield. If he had been victorious, surely he would have destroyed Moses (and his companions), and would have brutally ended the Israelites’ journey toward the Promised Land. The judge described by Jesus, as one “who didn’t fear God, and who didn’t respect any human being,” similarly had no desire to achieve true justice for his fellow human beings. In fact, the judge’s first preference was to ignore the needs of the poor widow and the justice she demanded.
Can’t it be said we have been delighted by these Scriptural reports telling us the evil intentions of Amalek and the “unjust judge” were ultimately defeated? Today’s Scriptures therefore teach us to have confidence we too will ultimately find true justice where once there might have been evil threats of power-abuse, injustice and oppression.
The unfortunate reality is that we continue to know of individuals, communities, ecclesiastical structures, corporations, systems, and even countries, which oppress and abuse those under their control. We know of systemic problems manifesting themselves in our own communities, in our country, and certainly throughout the world; we know these to be the cause of gross injustices, harm, and oppression for many people. We hear about rich countries subjugating poor countries, about multinational corporations quashing the successes of much smaller companies and individual entrepreneurs, about the wealthy failing to help the poor, about ethnic and racial groups discriminating against others, about “the powerful” of any type (even some within ecclesiastical hierarchies and “faith communities”) unjustly subduing “the powerless” under their control, and etcetera, etcetera. But let’s not be discouraged in the face of all of this!
Acknowledging all that’s noted above, I believe we must understand our work in pursuit of justice will always be part of our common Christian identity; we must be unrelenting as we embrace this responsibility toward others. And so, as with Moses (along with his companions) and the persistent widow, we are called to remain steadfast when we challenge and overturn unjust systems, traditions, attitudes, behaviors and actions!
As faith-filled people, who always strive in pursuit of true justice for all, may we always have confidence in the victory God promises to us! My friends, let’s encourage each other with the message of today’s Scriptures!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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