Cultivating Justice The Great Reversal

More traditional theologians call it “the Great Reversal”; liberation theologians call it “God’s preferential option for the poor.” What fascinates me is that traditional and liberation theologians use a more generic term (traditional theologians) versus a more pointed term (liberation theologians) to describe the same reality. One term is heard as “acceptable” (by some) versus “provocative” (by some) but both “camps” point to the same Scriptures to highlight God’s Lordship claim upon our lives: Jesus taught us to pray that God’s kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven.
Consider the following upside-down, inside-out, right-side-in reversals and for whom they are aimed (all verses from the Gospel of Luke to keep it simple):

·         Mother Mary: “…he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” (1:51-53)

·         Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free….” (4:18)

·         Jesus again: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” (6:21)

·         Jesus again, this time to the Presbyter….errr, Pharisees: “…you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.” (11:42)

·         Jesus yet again: “When you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.” (14:13-14)

·         Jesus still today: “Indeed, there are those who are last who shall be first and first who shall be last.” (13:30).

If these verses do not cause you a sobering pause, my heart is sad for you, for the lack of a pause may reflect a hardness that needs to be softened or a brokenness that needs to be healed. Usually when I teach on cultivating justice, I have the class read many more Lukan Scripture to experience the tsunami of call to the Lordship of Christ in this area. It takes a lot to break through our veneer of having our act together as modern, overly educated, we-got-this Presbyterian Christians; blessed be: Luke has a lot more than we can hope or imagine and will break us (in a good, blessed way) if we will but allow it.

So, does God have a “preferential option for the poor”? I’m still too much of a traditionalist not to get squeamish by such language, for I know many folks who are rich whom God seems to love (and I count myself among these folks). Yet if we are to live into the fullness of the Lord’s Prayer we recite with such routine, embracing the obligation for reversal and welcoming the opportunities reversal offers us, is, at the barest minimum, a necessary first step.

What on earth are we doing for heaven’s sake,
Brad Munroe