“…Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
We read those inspiring, challenging words from the prophet Amos this past Sunday.
It certainly is a beautiful image – justice, as strong as the tide rolling in yet as refreshing as a cool stream, coming for those in need.
But for we who would worship and serve God, those words also culminate some stark proclamations. To paraphrase Amos, God says that no matter how eloquent are our prayers, no matter how big are our offering checks, no matter how pitch-perfect and heartfelt are our songs, God will not listen, will not accept, will not hear them…unless and until we are also actively engaged in bringing justice for the hungry, the poor, and the oppressed.
Like I said, challenging words.
This week, a group of our youth (with some leaders, of course) did their best to live up to that challenge. In lieu of our regular Wednesday night activities, we spent two hours serving at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora. In those two hours the 20 of us, along with about 50 other volunteers, packed enough meals to fill 82 boxes.
That means we packed 17,712 meals, enough to fed 49 kids for a year.
The boxes we packed are scheduled to go to Haiti next week. It’s been two years since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, but tremendous need still exists.
We are humbled and thrilled to provide a small piece of relief, to help bring to life God’s dreams of justice for hungry children.
In what works of justice are you participating?