She is one of the most familiar symbols in our legal system, though few of us have a specific name to call her. Most call her “Lady Justice” and since the sixteenth century, she has been blindfolded, representing the idea of impartiality, suggesting that justice should be applied without regard to wealth, power, or other status. But is justice really blind? If justice is to be, as Wendell Berry has said, the intent to “do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you,” then justice must be able to see and take note…to see very deeply. It is only by seeing people and actions as they really are that we can hope to practice justice, especially a justice that is restorative.
In Isaiah 58, we read that God loves “the loosing of the bonds of injustice, and the undoing the thongs of the yoke”. And in Luke 4, Jesus declared that his ministry involved enacting the promises of the Year of Jubilee, where captives were released and debts were forgiven. This was a justice that looked at the world as it was, and said, “This is not the world as God created it to be. Let’s make it right.” This justice is anything but blind, but sees things both in their brokenness and in their promises. This justice looks upon the world with eyes wide open and a heart full of passion.
In worship on Sunday, we’ll have an interview with Dr. Raymond Wise, conductor of the Indiana University African American Choral Ensemble. Among other things, Dr. Wise will tell us about a song he composed Titled, “See Me”. Then we’ll be privileged to have a video of the Choral Ensemble sing that song for us. The sermon for the morning is titled, “See Me: An Eyes Wide Open Justice,” arising from Isaiah 58:6-12 and Luke 4:16-18. We’ll also have prayers, hymns lead by our singers and accompanied by Nara Lee, a moment for children, and scripture readings read by Tony and Trina Mescher. We will also celebrate Holy Communion virtually. You are invited to have elements of bread and cup with you, and we will bless those together.
We look forward to connecting with you on the Live Stream Sunday morning at 10:30. Visit our website at www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream Banner.