Dear AGAC friends,
All the readings assigned this week – Isaiah 58, Psalm 103, Hebrews 12 and Luke 13 – paint a vivid picture of the justice we are called to embody.
Isaiah 58 brings a powerful challenge to hollow religious observance. The people of Israel were faithfully engaging in rituals of fasting and worship, but God’s response is clear: their sacrifices are meaningless if they are not accompanied by justice.
Psalm 103 is a hymn of praise that celebrates God’s mercy and care for the weak and vulnerable. Hebrews 12 invites us to reflect on the call to perseverance in the pursuit of this type of overarching justice, while Luke 13 is urging us to prioritize acts of compassion, justice, and freedom in our interactions with others and in our worship of God.
As shared in the newsletter and my reflection for the last several weeks, I have been personally challenged to reflect on how I am engaging with the issue of justice. God graciously reminds me that our faith is not just about words but about action – feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and breaking the chains of injustice in our community. And I am inviting you to join me in this challenge.
Ngā manaakitanga
Yukiko
