I’m angry.
When I read these words from the Book of Micah, I get angry because it reminds me how much we have recklessly and flagrantly ignored what God calls us to do as Christians. I get angry because of instead of seeking justice, we ignore the plights of the poor and most vulnerable in society. Instead of loving kindness and mercy, we are caught in a dangerous love affair with guns and warfare. Instead of walking in humility, we have policies that protect the richest and most powerful. When I pause to consider the state of our world today, I fear that the words of Micah have not just been ignored, but also forgotten.
In spite of this, I am not without hope. The words of the prophet Micah not only make me angry; they also call us to a new way of living. My prayer for you this Lent is that you, too, may get angry when you read the words of the prophet Micah. But, because Lent leads us to new life on Easter Sunday, I also pray that this time of penitence also inspires hope and new ways of living. Though our current world clashes so violently with God’s vision for it, I believe we can all participate in bringing to fruition Micah’s call for justice, mercy, and humility.
May this Lent be a time of responding to this call. May this season fill you with holy anger and impatience, but also with hope. In this time of reflection, may we all re-order our ways of living in order to answer Micah’s call.
-Kurt Karandy
AU Methodist-Protestant Community
