Advent
December 12, 2021
And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’ –Luke 3:10-14
I found it somewhat ironic that this Scripture with the phrase ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ was part of the liturgy for this week. Congress is considering the Build Back Better Bill; It includes a provision that the federal government will Impose a tax penalty if drug companies increase their prices faster than inflation*. While I am a strong supporter of the separation of church and state, we have a voice in our government’s being moral, being just. What Jesus is outlining in the above Scripture is the simple act of being righteous and just in all we do.
We live in a democracy that requires all citizens’ input and a concerted effort to find common ground for the common good among the diversity of opinions in our country. The word moral as it applies to governance means considering something having the qualities of right and wrong action being governed by a sense of right**. Unfortunately, we are in danger of being overtaken by oligarchs who believe theirs is the only right way to do anything and gain their decision-making control by buying our elected officials***. Such wealth allows our representatives to venture far afield from what is right for the constituents they serve. The oligarchs do not need to invest in the whole Congress or State Legislature. They just need to control enough to divide and conquer lawmaking. In a democracy, we, the people, are the only ones who can stop it.
Prayer: Lord, guide us in being good, moral, and just in our role as citizens. Amen.
*https://www.whitehouse.gov/build-back-better/
**https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/moral
***On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, that corporations and other outside groups could spend unlimited funds on elections.
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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.