Eastertide
April 15, 2016

Scripture Reading: Revelation 7:9-17

They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
   the sun will not strike them,
   nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
   and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ –Revelation 7:16-17

From even a quick scan of the Bible it is not hard to see that God has a great place in God’s heart for the oppressed. They will hunger no more. God did not create us to be oppressors. We actually would deny any part we might even be considered to play in oppressing others, but it is the details that matter.

Oklahoma has as a part of its income tax system a provision that allows very low income filers to take a tax deduction on the sales tax they have paid on groceries throughout the year. These folks rarely have a mortgage so they do not get to take advantage of that tax break. They also most likely do not pay property tax so they do not get to take that tax break either. Those are both federal tax deductions and the grocery tax break is a state deduction but our state income is deduced directly from the income taxed on our federal return.

In Oklahoma’s current, I would say self-inflicted, fiscal crisis removing or reducing this tax break on groceries has been targeted for elimination or at least reduction, while our elected representatives are stubbornly resisting rolling back the income tax reduction for our wealthiest citizens put into place this year. Now does that seem right to you?

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we become complacent to the needs of others. Help us be conduits of your justice and fairness. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.