You Are Not Obligated to Complete the Work

Sometimes the strongest work of evil is to convince us that we can’t make a difference in the world. It certainly seems that oppression thrives by overwhelming the oppressed - by providing so many obstacles to justice that they just give up.

So when we look out at the world and see what a mess it is, we’re so overcome by the task of setting it right that we end up doing nothing.

Today, listen into this word from a series of Rabbi’s who are trying to help us understand the Old Testament prophet Micah. Maybe you could pray this out loud a couple of times to let it sink in.

Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.

• Rabbi Rami Shapiro, paraphrasing another Rabbi who is commenting on another Rabbi who is interpreting Micah 6:8