Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, added to them all by shutting up John in prison.”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, February 22, 2025
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
The truth hurts. And as in John’s case, it can get you arrested, and later killed. But that doesn’t mean we get to stop speaking it. The world is full of people who are standing up to oppressive powers every single day. Many of them are arrested. Many of them are killed. But until there is justice for all, and the flourishing of all, this is our call, people. Possibly some people are sick to death of how so many of my daily devotions bang on about this call. Possibly some people would prefer more introspective musings, rather than my harangues about those who are poor, the widows and the orphans. But I’m just not going to shut up about it. I can’t.
Of course, the odds of my getting arrested and killed for voicing my opinion through these little reflections are pretty much nil. I stand in awe of those doing real work on the real “front lines” around the world. I revere the memories of those like Bonhoeffer who died for their convictions. I support organizations that do justice work, of course, but I could be doing more.
I hope I am never in a position where standing up for my convictions means facing imprisonment or worse. But I also hope that should such a situation arise that I would have the trust in God do speak the truth on behalf of the voiceless, no matter what the cost.
How far am I willing to go for the cause of justice?
