Do Not Oppress the Widow, Orphan, Foreigner, or Poor
Wednesday Self-Reflection
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Today, I invite you to spend some time in silent consideration. Imagine me sitting with you and asking the following questions. Allow the time to turn into an internal conversation with me. I think this works best as a journaling exercise.
When you look at your personal relationships, who qualifies for “widow”, “orphan”, “foreigner”, or “poor”? Are there categories you would like to add to that list to better represent equivalent types of people today?
When you look at the society around you, who qualifies for “widow”, “orphan”, “foreigner”, or “poor”? Why do you think the prophets kept crying out against those in power in favor of these people?
What does “evil” toward those groups look like? Why do people engage in it? When have you engaged in it? How can individuals and groups move away from evil and toward justice?
Peace, Bo
The Evolving Christian Faith Network
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The prophets weren’t confused. They named the real litmus test of any faith worth its incense: how you treat those the empire forgets or despises.
Widows, orphans, foreigners, the poor—add the trans kid, the unhoused neighbor, the addict, the refugee. If your spirituality doesn’t lean toward them, it isn’t from the Spirit.
Oppression isn’t just cruelty—it’s convenience at their expense. Justice starts with the inconvenient work of love.
Good questions, Bo. We need them.
—Virgin Monk Boy