Reflections for a Transformed Self and Society Ms. Divya Athyal Mathew, Boston When asked to reflect on her journey through the tumultuous year of 2020, Natalie Manuel Lee, host of “Now with Natalie” on the Hillsong Channel says with a heavy breath, “This has been the most challenging year of my life. I don’t understand how people have survived 2020 without faith, because I’m barely surviving with faith.” Many people across the globe empathize with this sentiment, as for almost all of 2020, the world has been filled with hardship, pain, suffering, loneliness and overwhelming discomfort. Many of us have experienced a season of confronting; confronting our beliefs that aren’t comfortable relating to racial justice and discrimination. One of the most painful moments of 2020 was witnessing the senseless murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmad Arbury and George Floyd, which captured our nation’s attention, specifically putting a lens on how society and the justice system treats Black Americans. It is more apparent than ever that our country is wrestling with our nation’s troubling and painful history, and the social and economic inequities heavily ingrained in our society. Unfortunately, racial statistic reports exemplify that many people in the United States live in very different worlds. In 2018, the average Black worker earned just 62% of what the average white worker made (Gal). Minority women die three times more often giving birth than their white counterparts. Minority poverty rates more than double white poverty rates. People of color consist of a slim minority, however they disproportionately account for 60% of those imprisoned. The war on drugs has taken a heavy toll in communities of color and they are more likely to receive higher offenses (Kerby). Tragically, people of color are incarcerated, policed and reprimanded at a significantly higher rate than their white counterparts. What are we to do with all this despair and disappointment? What is the Christian response to discrimination and injustice? Is there reason to be hopeful in the midst of all the injustices in our society today? The Gospel of Luke is a fitting place to look for answers because out of all the four Gospel writers, Luke was the only Gentile. Because of this, many scholars speculate that Luke was addressing a wider audience to help them understand that Jesus is the Savior for all humanity. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, he masterfully demonstrates how Jesus provides hope and comfort to those who are persecuted and who are marginalized. Within the pain of one’s current condition, the Book of Luke conveys that they can experience the
everlasting joy of Christ, as evidenced in numerous parables in the Gospel of Luke. Luke’s Sermon on the Plain is parallel to Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, suggesting that the topic of inequity, disparity and systemic oppression was a topic preached numerous times during Jesus’ ministry. Interestingly, he includes women in the narrative of Jesus’ ministry in a way the other Gospel writer fail to do. Luke 6:20-26 says, ‘And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” Jesus discusses two contrasting populations. In the former section of the text, He speaks of the poor, hungry, grieving, hated, and marginalized people who are on the lower end of society. Their unfortunate condition is not based on their wickedness or indulgence; however, it is derived from the systems and structures of their society that disproportionately benefit one group over the other. However, in Jesus’ Kingdom, they will be embraced with open arms and can experience overwhelming joy, happiness, and contentment. Jesus is not saying all marginalized communities are going to inherit the Kingdom because of their situation, however He is saying there is a grace for those who are poor and desire following and living for Jesus (Grace Chapel). In the latter portion of the text, He speaks of the second group of people- the rich, the well fed, proud, people who are well educated, and those who experience the abundance of this world. Although the text does not explicitly state this, we can infer that some of these people may be enjoying these blessings at the expense of other people. In contrast to the poor, these are the callous rich. In our world today, many of us are driven by education, wealth, prestige and affection of others. Although one should pursue this in moderation, we must reflect on if we are allowing Christ to be the giver
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