Living in the Spirit
June 21, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 4:35-41

But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’ –Mark 4:38-41

What are some anonyms for the word oppressed? The unabridged dictionary doesn’t list any. It seems to me that most of the problems among the peoples of God is a lack of understanding regarding what it means not to be oppressed. While some have lived in oppression for generations and know that way of being as their norm, most of us are fairly quick to recognize when we are being set apart for mistreatment and most of us are just as quick to react to it.

It is very difficult for people who have been in prison for years to adapt to freedom. Many return to a life of crime because that was what they knew before prison and they do not know how to be free. Restorative justice works to assist such prisoners in realizing their full potential in positive pursuits.

What about those of us who have lived in relative abundance for generations? Does freedom from oppression mean living our lives in laissez faire, a policy or attitude of letting things take their own course? If it feels good do it. The history of the Israelites indicate that was exactly what they envisioned. Such an attitude kept them on the roller coaster of feast and famine until they lost everything and were overcome by their own failure to take care of business. The resulting greed and misuse of power is what leads to oppression. The abundant life of which Jesus spoke was meant for all. Why are we afraid to live in such abundance when we serve a God who loves and takes care of all of us?

It seems to me, a large part of Jesus’ ministry was dedicated to defining the anonym of oppression as being freed to choose to love ourselves and one another and to take responsibility for ourselves and one another. If there is anyone in the world oppressed God is still working to end the oppression and expects us to be working toward that same end.

Prayer: Lord, heal our fears of not being whole if everyone else is also whole. 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.