As important as justice might seem for disciples it gives way to the more important virtue of love. This truth is exemplified in Sunday’s Gospel when John the Baptist gives way to Jesus. John revealed a just God. John’s god was concerned with denouncing sinners and cleansing the world of evil. As it was time for John to give way to Jesus so it was time for John’s just god to give way to Jesus’ loving one. A new revelation was needed. Jesus reveals Abba, a god of love.
Some self-titled Christians will not let John’s just god give way. Those who worship John’s god will not let Jesus’ Abba god emerge. The old god has many worshipers still. They have much injustice to denounce these days. Claiming fidelity to their just god some elite members of Congress, such as Stephen Fincher (R-TN), denounce food stamp recipients as unjust, scamming the system for a few more dollars. Likewise, elite editors at Forbes Magazine denounce the injustice of fast food workers claiming they destroy business for the sake of a hike in the minimum wage. Neither group denounces Wall Street elites as unjust in scamming the system for several trillion dollars. Not do they criticize fast food CEO elites as unjust for destroying business by getting 800 times more money than the average worker. The old god and the old god’s justice was then and remains now a front for the elites and their unjust system. Jesus understood that truth 2,000 years ago. Not so John the Baptist. That is why John the Baptist and his denunciations give way to Jesus and his love – 2,000 years ago. Jesus was replacing the elites and their system. As the unjust elites fought Jesus so they would fight disciples. So it is that Fincher and Forbes fight. Politicians and CEO’s value fighting. They would keep us as combatants in wars they can well afford to fight. But being combatants would hinder our being disciples, co-creating Jesus’ loving way. Being combatants would hinder our calling them to be disciples, co-creators following Jesus’ loving way.
As difficult as it might be to live from love in a world dominated by injustice, that is our call. We need to be knowledgeable about injustice, wise about its manipulations, and loving about transforming its promoters and their system.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, may my heart be loving.
Question: Am I up to anything less than the transformation of the world?
January 12, 2014 Gospel Matthew 3:13-17 Feast of the Baptism of Jesus