Doing Justice

Twenty-five hundred years ago (more or less), the old prophet Micah’s in conversation with God about how to live well. It’s the same conversation we have today over coffee as we sort through what we should do with our lives. What will make us happy? What will be fulfilling? What was I made to do? These are the sorts of questions we each ask at some point in time.

So Micah is asking God these questions, and God throws down an answer for the ages:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8

There are so many angles from which to look at this text, and these short reflections will barely scratch the surface. But note that we actually are called to do something with our lives - to act out justice. And we’re called to do it in such a way that we’re considered merciful. And we do it with a lot of humility. This answer to Micah is all about how to live a full and flourishing life - it’s actually for our good.

On Sunday, after we saw Jesus healing the sick and caring for the poor, we heard Jesus saying, “Wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” There’s a very active side of faith - and it’s all about justice. Is justice something you do? What does it look like for you?