Social Justice Unit 2 PDF

Social Justice Unit 2 Biblical Foundations of Justice The Unfolding of Justice in Scripture God’s Nature Covenant 01 Revealed in Hebrew Scripture 02 Justice and fidelity Prophets...

Social Justice Unit 2 Biblical Foundations of Justice The Unfolding of Justice in Scripture God’s Nature Covenant 01 Revealed in Hebrew Scripture 02 Justice and fidelity Prophets Jesus 03 Calls to return to the Covenant 04 New Covenant open to all Discipleship 05 Justice as hallmark of following Christ  In the Old Testament God is revealed to us as the liberator 01 of the oppressed and the defender of the poor, demanding from people faith and justice towards oneʼs God’s neighbor. It is only in the observance of Nature the duties of justice that God is truly recognized as the liberator of the Godʼs Nature Video oppressed.  Biblical faith in general, and prophetic faith especially, insist that fidelity to the covenant joins obedience to God 02 with reverence and concern for the neighbor. The biblical terms which best summarize this double Covenant dimension of Israelʼs faith are sedaqah, justice (also translated as righteousness), and mishpat (right Covenant Video judgment or justice embodied in a concrete act or deed).  When the people turn away from the living God to serve idols and no longer heed the commands of the 03 covenant, God sends prophets to recall his saving deeds and to summon them to return to the one who betrothed them “in right and in justice, in love and in mercy” (Hos 2:21). Prophets The substance of prophetic faith is proclaimed by Micah: “to do justice, Prophets Video and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mi 6:8).  According to the Christian message our relationship to our neighbor is bound up with our relationship to God; our response to the love of God, 05 saving us through Christ, is shown to be effective in his love and service of people. Christian love of neighbor and justice cannot be separated. For love implies an absolute Discipleship demand for justice, namely a recognition of the dignity and rights of oneʼs neighbor. Justice attains its inner fullness only in love. Because every person is truly a visible image of the invisible God and a sibling of Christ, the Christian finds in every person God himself and Godʼs absolute demand for justice and love. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.  How did the chapter help you understand the Exodus narrative? What surprised you? What challenged you (intellectually or personally? The Outline of Exodus (McAfee Brown) 1. A class struggle is going on. 2. God is aware of the struggle. 3. God takes sides in the struggle. 4. God calls people to join in the struggle.  Biblical Justice Results in right relationship with God, others, and creation.  Micah 6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. The Prophets The Prophets speak to the conscience of the people to remind them of the requirements of the covenant. A sign of fidelity to God is evident by the presence and quality of justice in the land. Right Relationship Broadly, right relationships are relations in which each (or all) seek, without abandoning themselves, to be attentive and responsive to the needs and emotions of one another…That is, a relationship is not “right” if participants seek to overbear in power (oppress), to overreach in resources (exploit), or to mislead for selfish advantage (manipulate). John Humbach, JD Prophets were responsible for: Communicating God's message: Prophets were used by God to communicate his message to the world. Calling out sinful practices: Prophets called out sinful practices, especially idolatry, such as worshipping other gods and child sacrifice. Calling people to holiness: Prophets called people to holiness. St. Oscar Romero How did Romero serve as a prophet in El Salvador? How did he call people into “right relationship”? What sort of justice did Romero demand?  By his action and teaching Christ united in an indivisible way the relationship of people to God and the relationship of people to each other. 04 Christ lived his life in the world as a total giving of himself to God for the salvation and liberation of people. In his preaching he proclaimed the fatherhood of God towards all people and Jesus the intervention of Godʼs justice on behalf of the needy and the oppressed (Lk 6: 21- 23). In this way he identified himself with his “least ones,” as he stated: “As you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40).  The Synoptic Gospels Matthew Mark Luke 85-90 CE 65-70 CE 80-90 CE Jewish Audience Greek speaking/Gentile (Uses Q) (Uses Q) When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Ma 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. tthe 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. w 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,[c] not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them. 20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, Luke for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you[d] on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. 27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.[e] Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Sermon on the Mount (Matthew) Sermon on the Plain (Luke) 8 Blessings 4 Blessings 4 “Woes” Spiritual Earthbound Be PERFECT like God Be MERCIFUL like God Jesus is the renewal of the Covenant Jesus is the “New Moses ” ○ Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is associated with Moses in several ways: ○ Mountain: Jesus climbs a mountain to reveal God's will, similar to how Moses received God's commandments on Mount Sinai. ○ Teaching: Jesus sits down to teach, similar to how Moses received God's law on Mount Sinai. ○ Jesus forms a new community that must follow a stricter covenant than the people of Israel. Jesus accompanies the anawim - the Hebrew word for poor, destitute, marginalized Restoration - Jesus restores the brokenness created by failure to keep the commands of the covenant and by human sinfulness. Building the Kingdom of God - Jesus invites us to participate in our own liberation (Emmaus) The “upside down” Kingdom of God Humility Love Those who serve are the In the Kingdom of God, love rules. most powerful Beyond love of neighbor to love of enemies. Forgiveness Suffering In the Kingdom of God, Suffering is transformative - a forgiveness is commanded - “fact of life” that calls us to beyond what we may think is metanoia reasonable