This week we continue with Cornel West from "Hope on a Tightrope."
The very notion of humane treatment is inseparable from the historic struggle for love and justice. Humane treatment four hundred years ago was very different from what it is now. Thus, the Christian has a mandate to identify with the downtrodden, the dispossessed, the disinherited, the exploited, and the oppressed.
To be a Christian is fundamentally to live a sacrificial life, a love-informed life, a life of caring, and a life of giving.
I some ways, the Advent admonition to "Stay Awake" and "Keep Alert" are one that demand that we bring into view and keep in view those who are in our day - the downtrodden - dispossessed - disinherited - exploited - oppressed. If we only look back at older views, we will miss those who are so close to us now...we cannot or will not see them. Humane treatment is nothing more than the simple and yet profound life of not letting anyone go - not letting any person be see or treated as an object - not turning our back from one person so as to build a community of exclusion. As we act from that which is truly human, there can be nothing that separates us from the humanity of others. In fact, as we are caring and giving and love-informed and sacrificial, we give shape to the fullness of our humanity. Within such lives as this, the world begins to get a picture of who we each can be and what such a life does for the well-being of all - no exceptions.
Connection: Just a few Advent words: Stay Awake! Keep Alert!
You call us to be the beloved you have created...to be truly human...to be a witness to the glory of your creation. Inspire us to walk in our own shoes and identify with all who are called your beloved. In such an inspiring day as that, we may find ourselves living within a promise. Amen.
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