[nfbmi-talk] What my Faith Tells Me About Injustice

[Fred Wurtzel]

Hello,

 

I wish to share a little of how my faith informs my choices.  Why I speak
out and why I am an activist.  I am not trying to preach or evangelize,
here, only to explain my motivations and what I feel I am called to do.  The
following is from the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 58.

True Fasting

1"Shout it aloud, do not hold back.

   Raise your voice like a trumpet.

Declare to my people their rebellion. . .

 

 

6"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

   and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

   and break every yoke?

7Is it not to share your food with the hungry

   and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-

when you see the naked, to clothe them,

   and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

   and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness[

a

]will go before you,

   and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;

   you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

   "If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

   with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

   and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

   and your night will become like the noonday.

11The LORD will guide you always;

   he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

   and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

   like a spring whose waters never fail.

12Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

   and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

   Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

 

I send this with all due respect to everyone and their faith.  I am called
to speak out about injustice and work to rebuild what is broken.  Mistakes
have been made and more will be made.  We will continue to speak out about
injustice and we will continue to work to build our meager man-made systems
to serve those who need help.  We will see that blind people get
high-quality services that will bring justice and dignity.  

 

This is Lent.  A time, in my faith tradition, for introspection and
repentence.  the above is some of what I am learning.

 

Thank you for your indulgence.

 

Warmest Regards,

 

Fred