Praying for Justice

Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8

My first thought about these texts is they present a variety of ways to pray to God. Jacob wrestles with an angel or some other being sent by God. Psalm 121 would have been prayed or sung as pilgrims processed from home to Jerusalem for festival days. Paul writes to Timothy, telling him how to trust the words of scripture and the testimony of witnesses. And Jesus tells a parable about a widow who pled her case persistently to a corrupt judge.

Often, praying includes wrestling with hard choices or difficult circumstances. Many folks pray for safe travels as they set out and as they travel, especially knowing there are impaired drivers on the roads and plenty of challenges when traveling by air. It’s always appropriate to pray before preaching or teaching, or even sharing Bible stories with children.

… These are all fairly easy stories and writings to figure out, But as usual, it’s the parable that has us scratching our heads. Typically, when we read a parable we try to discern which character in the story is God. But this interpretation would mean that God is a corrupt judge, or a pesty woman demanding we listen to her.

So, what can this parable tell us instead? The following verses give us a hint. This story is intended to give us a contrasting image of God. “Think about the corrupt judge. Imagine instead how much more God wants to give you whatever you need or want, whenever you ask for it.”

… Beyond ways or reasons to pray, these texts are also about justice. The stories in Genesis tell us that Jacob often tricked his brother Esau, and was afraid to meet with him again. Wrestling with his fears, and a being sent by God, proved to him he was still blessed and worthy of good things.

The name given to him, Israel, means wrestles with God. We can almost always identify a God portion in a Bible name because it has EL or YAH in it. So Isra - , wrestles with El, God, to form Isra-el. Throughout scripture, the name Israel refers to both the man Jacob, and to the kingdom of Israel – which even today is seen to be wrestling with God.

… We often pray for simple, maybe easy things. We pray with thanksgiving for what God has first given us – ourselves, our time, our talents and skills, and our financial wealth. We ask God to be present and guide us as we study and teach the Bible or give testimony about out faith experiences. We ask for safe surgeries, safe travel, safe baby deliveries.

But sometimes, our prayers are more serious. We pray for healing when we are seriously ill or caring for someone who is ill. We pray for safety when our lives, or the lives of our loved ones are at risk.

We pray differently when the reason we are praying is someone else’s fault. Then we pray for justice, as the widow in the parable did. We don’t know what her claim was, but we can imagine, based on the culture of the time. Let’s say she was older, and her sons were grown. Her husband dies, and when his will is read, it says she gets to keep the main home and some of the land. The older son is not happy to have just the secondary home and the rest of the land; he wants it all. And he makes life difficult for his mother, maybe even having the judge issue an eviction notice.

So the widow files a counterclaim with the judge, who doesn’t want to deal with this widow. Perhaps the son has paid the judge to side with him instead. And the widow doesn't have a larger amount to sway the judge her way. The woman is praying for justice.

… On a larger scale, you may be aware of a dispute between a coalition of Native American Tribes and Resolution Copper.  The goal is possession of an ancient holy site called Oak Flats, west of Phoenix, Arizona. It has been used “forever” by native peoples for a variety of sacred rituals. This land is as sacred to the tribes as Jerusalem is to us. In addition, it is a sensitive ecological area.

In a more than ten-year legal battle, the tribes have protested the takeover of the land by the US government and the mining corporation. Recent appeals have paused the takeover again. Over the years, Resolution Copper has reduced the size of the claim in its pursuit to gain enough of the land to proceed. They have also specified in writing that traditional worship sites will forever be protected.  

In an article in the August issue of Christian Century , Tim Nafziger suggests the land would have more status if there was an old church built on it. The thing is, native worship is conducted in connection with the land and all that lives on it. So, the trees and shrubs and critters are the church they are defending and protecting.

The Tribal Association of Arizona has been as persistent in its pursuit of justice as the widow in Jesus’ parable. The question remains, will the courts and judges provide the justice the members of the tribes are praying  for?

… There are many expressions of injustice these days: wars are de facto unjust. Many people find it hard to access to health care, affordable housing and healthy food. Humans have always struggled to welcome the stranger and those who look or act differently. The removal of trees for new houses means critters are moving into our neighborhoods and  lawns. Bullies assault those whom they perceive are lesser. And so forth.

It is never God’s will that injustice exists. But it’s not God’s job to stop it. It’s up to us as God’s people. God taught Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Micah and Amos to seek justice. Jesus taught dozens of followers to seek justice. And still we live with injustice!

… Here at home, your offerings help us fight injustice in many ways. We are a base of justice-providing as we feed hundreds of hungry people each month, and provide weekend food for hungry children at the local elementary school. We make donations to several local organizations that aid people suffering from injustice, and make quilts and kits that serve the needy.

As you prayerfully consider the amount you hope to give to Gloria Dei this year, consider how many ways we use that gift to serve the people of the congregation, the community, and reach out to share the good news of God’s plan for justice for all people. Amen