This is the year many Americans finally became aware of Juneteenth, a holiday long marked in many Black communities. It commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States – two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect January 1, 1863. June 19, 1865 was the day that word came to Texas with the announcement by Union troops that the Civil War had ended and slaves had been freed -
two and a half years earlier, except in Texas.
That two-and-a-half-year gap strikes me as significant, as though the celebration had to wait for the fulfillment of the promise. Of course, we know the promise has not been fulfilled. Abolishing slavery did not abolish racism or terrorism or prejudice, lynching, red-lining, disenfranchise-ment, or any of the structures of institutional racism that continue to disadvantage people of color economically, socially, judicially, politically. If anything, many black and brown people in our nation are more at risk in America today than even forty years ago – or maybe we’re just finally paying more attention.
What does this have to do with the gospel for this coming Sunday? These hard teachings we’ve wrestled with this week are chiefly about reordering our priorities, learning to put God’s priorities first. And friends, justice is God’s priority. Equity is God’s priority. As the prophet Micah reminds us,
God shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation,neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid;for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. (Micah 4:3-4)
As long as people of color are denied the same access to resources and privileges; as long as they routinely face harassment in stores and on the streets; as long as young black and brown men in this country fear for their lives whenever they leave the house, our work is not done.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Jesus clearly redefined family; he said it wasn’t our blood kin, it was those who followed him – and he said loving God comes first, no matter what. That must be reflected in how we care for those who may not look, love, vote or think like us, if we claim to be followers of Jesus.
TThe priorities the world presents us are: “Take what you want, when you want it, with whom you want it.” Jesus says, “Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’ve entered the relationship into which Jesus invites you, or you are curious and exploring it. Maybe you’ve already discovered what Christians have known for 2000 years, that life is infinitely richer – though no less painful – when we follow the Way of Love. The Way of Love cannot bypass the pursuit of “liberty and justice for all.”
This Juneteenth, take up the call to educate yourself on systemic racism (the Christ Churches are beginning a study of Waking Up White), advocate for laws and practices that can level the playing field, and take action in solidarity with those being harmed. Many in our country and world are waking up to this persistent nightmare so many have lived for centuries; may we find our lives in bringing God’s dream to fruition. Then we can truly celebrate.
That two-and-a-half-year gap strikes me as significant, as though the celebration had to wait for the fulfillment of the promise. Of course, we know the promise has not been fulfilled. Abolishing slavery did not abolish racism or terrorism or prejudice, lynching, red-lining, disenfranchise-ment, or any of the structures of institutional racism that continue to disadvantage people of color economically, socially, judicially, politically. If anything, many black and brown people in our nation are more at risk in America today than even forty years ago – or maybe we’re just finally paying more attention.
What does this have to do with the gospel for this coming Sunday? These hard teachings we’ve wrestled with this week are chiefly about reordering our priorities, learning to put God’s priorities first. And friends, justice is God’s priority. Equity is God’s priority. As the prophet Micah reminds us,
God shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation,neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid;for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. (Micah 4:3-4)
As long as people of color are denied the same access to resources and privileges; as long as they routinely face harassment in stores and on the streets; as long as young black and brown men in this country fear for their lives whenever they leave the house, our work is not done.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Jesus clearly redefined family; he said it wasn’t our blood kin, it was those who followed him – and he said loving God comes first, no matter what. That must be reflected in how we care for those who may not look, love, vote or think like us, if we claim to be followers of Jesus.
TThe priorities the world presents us are: “Take what you want, when you want it, with whom you want it.” Jesus says, “Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’ve entered the relationship into which Jesus invites you, or you are curious and exploring it. Maybe you’ve already discovered what Christians have known for 2000 years, that life is infinitely richer – though no less painful – when we follow the Way of Love. The Way of Love cannot bypass the pursuit of “liberty and justice for all.”
This Juneteenth, take up the call to educate yourself on systemic racism (the Christ Churches are beginning a study of Waking Up White), advocate for laws and practices that can level the playing field, and take action in solidarity with those being harmed. Many in our country and world are waking up to this persistent nightmare so many have lived for centuries; may we find our lives in bringing God’s dream to fruition. Then we can truly celebrate.
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