Zechariah 13
Psalm 142
Luke 4
The 13th chapter of Zechariah is justly titled the end of Falsehood.
As we come to the end of a year waiting for the new, we are tempted to think that after all it is and still will be the same thing all over – wars between nations, greed, falsehood in the political arena, corruption in the church, etc. It is the kind of reflection that has led many to subscribe to the atheist existentialist ideology one claiming that our existence is absurd, there is no good or evil.
In Psalm 142, King David sees hopeless around him yet prays with assurance that the Lord will deliver him ultimately because human existence is not meaningless. God has a purpose for all of us and falsehood and evil will not reign forever.
We have the hope that “change is coming: as we hear again the words of our Lord as he quotes the Prophet Isaiah.
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captive and recovery of sight to the blind to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19. May we embrace this message and go proclaim the good news, the gospel. Today more than ever throughout the world there is a resurgence of injustice, threat of religious wars, deepening conflicts between Christians and Muslims in parts of Africa and the Middle East. In spite of efforts being made to accept and celebrate our differences, LGBT are being sent to jail because of their lifestyle in places like Uganda. Fundamentalism of various shades is dividing the Christian family and social justice is rejected by many as a Marxist ideology.
Again, this gospel has to be preached more and more. “Glad tidings must be brought to the poor and the oppressed must go free.”
The Venerable J. Fritz Bazin, D. Min.
Archdeacon for Immigration and Social Justice Ministries
Diocese of Southeast Florida
Psalm 142
Luke 4
The 13th chapter of Zechariah is justly titled the end of Falsehood.
As we come to the end of a year waiting for the new, we are tempted to think that after all it is and still will be the same thing all over – wars between nations, greed, falsehood in the political arena, corruption in the church, etc. It is the kind of reflection that has led many to subscribe to the atheist existentialist ideology one claiming that our existence is absurd, there is no good or evil.
In Psalm 142, King David sees hopeless around him yet prays with assurance that the Lord will deliver him ultimately because human existence is not meaningless. God has a purpose for all of us and falsehood and evil will not reign forever.
We have the hope that “change is coming: as we hear again the words of our Lord as he quotes the Prophet Isaiah.
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captive and recovery of sight to the blind to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19. May we embrace this message and go proclaim the good news, the gospel. Today more than ever throughout the world there is a resurgence of injustice, threat of religious wars, deepening conflicts between Christians and Muslims in parts of Africa and the Middle East. In spite of efforts being made to accept and celebrate our differences, LGBT are being sent to jail because of their lifestyle in places like Uganda. Fundamentalism of various shades is dividing the Christian family and social justice is rejected by many as a Marxist ideology.
Again, this gospel has to be preached more and more. “Glad tidings must be brought to the poor and the oppressed must go free.”
The Venerable J. Fritz Bazin, D. Min.
Archdeacon for Immigration and Social Justice Ministries
Diocese of Southeast Florida
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