December 1 – Leader-full Liberation

 

“You are enough to start a movement.
Individual people can come together around things that they know are unjust.
And they can spark change.” – DeRay Mckesson

I invite you to engage your imagination and believe that Isaiah knew that enslaved peoples would need a Sojourner Truth, a John Brown, a Frederick Douglas, a Harriet Tubman, or a W. E. B. DuBois: ones upon whom the Spirit of the Lord would rest, giving them wisdom and understanding, counsel and might. What if Isaiah understood that every generation would need abolitionists to harness our collective power so we might move toward freedom?

God does not ignore the cries of those suffering oppression. God empowers a new Moses, a new shoot from the stump of Jesse, new wisdom and visions that can set God’s people free.

In every age there will arise prophets among us who envision shalom, who topple the mighty from their thrones and send the rich empty away. We have seen in our time the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and DeRay McKesson – courageous and righteous leaders risking their lives in order to pave the way of justice.  We are all called to this prophetic practice, this work of envisioning shalom.  How can we be a part of raising a new branch from the roots of love in every age, for every people, until justice comes, until freedom rings?

Prayer

Liberating God, we wait with deep longing for your arrival in our midst,
even as we hold on to the hope-filled imagination of new branches,
new freedom-fighters always emerging.
While we are waiting, empower us to take up our role
in the unfolding story of redeeming love and righteous freedom,
so that your kindom may come in this time and this place.  Amen.

Artwork: “Liberate” by Yohana Junker (discover more at: https://www.yohanajunker.com/)