Listen

Our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and a good hope. May he encourage your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do or say.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Think

“Every good thing you do or say” refers to outward actions that increase justice, love, and freedom. The hearts of those who seek to organize with suffering people to defend their rights must be comforted and strengthened in hard times, because those who seek to do right will always be opposed by powerful forces which see change as a threat to their control.

Paul knew this very well because he faced conflict in his efforts to spread the Good News of the gospel. He was denounced, physically assaulted, and even arrested. There is a saying that, “No good deed goes unpunished.” Doing what is right will often make you unpopular, but because it is right, you do not toil alone. God, Jesus, and our ancestors in the faith join with us to do God’s will for salvation and liberation.

Kamal Hassan

Pray

God of advocacy and social righteousness, you are my hope in hard times.

Be all I need to stand on the side of the victimized and face the consequences.

I will wait on you and be of good courage.

Amen.

Go

Walk humbly with your God

On paths not rutted from overuse

Walk toward people not of your kind

Walk with Jesus

And you will never walk alone