Micah 6:1-8
Epiphany 4 - Year A
Nature acts as judge on our behavior. When Gaea experiences abuse the judgment is that it must be stopped, no matter what. The consequences of bad/mad environmental policy directed at profit will come back to haunt subsequent generations. The worse the infraction, the longer the penalty.
Presuming that G*D and CREATION have a significant case to bring against the way in which we do business with nature and one another, we have to ask how we will plea bargain when caught red-handed. Do we make a payment of restitution? If so where do we begin and how far will we go? If we start with a burnt calf can we end anywhere else but at our beloved grandchildren.
When we finally catch on that there is no avoiding the consequence of cause and effect we may figure out that an eye for an eye, abuse for abuse, rape for rape, sacrifice for sacrifice has not and does not stop those who measure life by its profit to them. What is needed is a new relationship with G*D, CREATION, and NEIGHBORS. This new picture calls for a transformation of our ability to take, just because we can, into justice. Our frailty with justice then needs tempering lest it become self-righteous in its application. Thus the call for mercy/kindness. This mercy is not an overly simple and blanketing "that's ok" but a very rigorous and intentional walking in the cool of every evening with G*D, CREATION, and NEIGHBORS.
Justice with Mercy, leads to Community that is sustainable and joyful.
How does that differ from Peace with Justice or Peace and Justice? Do you have a bias toward starting with Justice or Peace? And your preference for the catalyst or operational element in the formula being Mercy or Justice?
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/january2005.html
Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12
Blessedness and rejoicing are both exciting, over-the-top, expressions and bedrock foundations from which comes steadfast love in shown in many ways. They need particulars to bring goodness into better clarity. They need particulars to respond to questions that will set case law.
Let's track some parallel terms from Micah, Psalms, Paul.
do justice - speak truth from the heart - do not take a bribe - desire wisdom
love kindness - do what is right - do not lend money - demand signs
walk humbly - walk blameless - stand by your oath - decide through foolishness
All manner of arrows can be drawn between these terms. Some will double-back on themselves, particularly when the beatitudes are tossed into the mix. Each of the blessings can be related to good effect to each of these terms.
In fact we have a season of possibilities here. Write them on a magnetic sheet and cut them apart. Each day rearrange them on your refrigerator until you have identified the best pattern for your life in this season. (In another season you may go through the same process and find yourself with a different best pattern.)
- - -
O my poor spirit
you have mourned much
destroyers of creation
the unhumble dominionists
who settle for righteousness
presently defined
devoid of future, of hope
the strict constructionist
merciless
setting up blowback
and child soldiers
through persecution
an evil of falseness
unable to see itself
pause
breathe
prepare to contend with yourself
for yourself
plead your case
no more sacrifices
internal or external
they will not fix
brokenness
they will not heal
hurt
they will not cover
debt
rejoice persecuted soul
peace is at hand
in heart and gut
created to comfort
to strengthen
your presence
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html
Talk about your on-going pop-quiz! Justice! Kindness! Humility!
Or should that be: justice. kindness. humility.
This is one of the lesser known passage regarding the honesty, integrity, judgment of the environment.
G*D is plaintiff and you and I and we are defendents, one and all. G*D's case is very straight-forward and is placed before judge and jury - creation.
What are the mountains hearing about the way we treat the air, water, land? It is the canary in the mine for the way we treat one another and resources of exchange between us.
G*D's complaint seems to be about the way we have treated G*D. The suit turns, however, on our relationships with one another. Were these to be characterized by justice, kindness, and humility the case would be thrown out. The mountains and hills could return to their everyday business, G*D's relationship with us would be restored - as is done to a Neighbor, so it is done to G*D.
And so today's quiz: Are you and yours any more just/fair than you were yesterday?
And so tomorrow's quiz: Are you and yours any more kind than you were today?
And so a quiz for the day after tomorrow: Are you and yours any more humble/loving than you may think possible tomorrow?
And so the quizes continue, opportunity by opportunity.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2011/01/micah-61-8.html
One way of approaching a public reading of the scriptures is to have them be read as part of a larger conversation. If we expect folks to make connections from disconnected readings we are not paying attention to the way folks work or learn.
Here it would be helpful to remind folks that contention is not an automatically bad thing. Too often we prefer “order” to “change” and turn any “differences” into “nice”.
So:
1) Note the tradition of G*D and creation being in contention. This means they are fruitfully engaged in figuring out their relationship and the future.
2) Now we can hear Prophet Micah set up the situation (Micah 6:1-7) and his summary of principles (Micah 6:8) upon which to engage a next stage of clarity (confrontation’s purpose).
3) Then we can hear Jesus say: Micah’s principles needs some additional flesh on them. Here are some applications of them regarding the way we look at others and see the blessing they carry with them (Matthew 5:1-10).
4) With Jesus, we need to hear that these blessings pose a danger as well. If we are going to take them seriously, they will put us athwart the political, economic, and moralities of the current time. (Matthew 5:11-12).
5) More than hearing is need. We need to return to Micah 6:1-2 and risk contending with one another and with G*D. This feedback loop of contentious setting, statement of principles, practical application, engaged risk, and a return to a review of the contention now — is important. Cutting it off at just hearing the principles or applications is to weaken and kill the dynamic of change in favor of stifling order.