In the first reading the Lord puts into motion his plan to deliver the children of Israel from oppression. I wish he would do that now. There are so many being oppressed in so many ways and so many places. People could really use some deliverance, but aren’t getting it. The psalm says,” The LORD secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed.” I really hope that is true and that it happens. There are so many right now oppressed, hoping for this deliverance. So many are hoping for justice and for the rights they deserve. The psalm reiterates, “The Lord is kind and merciful.” It continues, “He redeems your life from destruction.” Too many are on that path of destruction with no way out and need that redemption.
I am pained to see so many being oppressed, so many being denied God-given rights, so many lives destroyed with no recourse here. I want to have hope in the reading and in the Psalm that promises the Lord will secure justice and right for all the oppressed. I want to believe that the Lord will redeem lives from destruction. I repeat the response, “The Lord is kind and merciful,” and wait to see it reflected in the world.
Tamora Whitney
I teach in the English department. I teach composition and literature and Critical Issues -- a class that has a component on Jesuit values.
I like writing these reflections because it makes me think more deeply about the scripture and think about how to integrate the ideas into my own life and how to share these ideas with others.
