Justice

The Spirit of Life calls to us:
"Bring good news to aching hearts."
The Spirit of Life calls to us:
 "Let the oppressed be free."
The Spirit of Life calls to us:
"Let justice cascade like waterfalls."
The Spirit of Life calls to us.
Let it be.


We say we are a loving people,
but there can be no love without peace between us.
We say we are a people of peace,
but there can be no peace without justice among us.
We say we are a people of justice,
but there can be no justice without hope for us all.
(Adapted from "We Are..." by Richard Becher)


 Song: Walk On by Hilltop Hoods
(Some of the political references are a bit dated, but the message remains.)

Give Us A Voice

 Give us a voice, and we will cry out.
We will raise our voices to sing;
Our feet will dance,
Wherever there are signs of life around us.

 Give us a voice, and we will sob.
We will weep with the world,
like a child holding a broken treasure,
we will not be comforted.

 Give us a voice to name truth,
and expose falsehood;
to encourage the discouraged,
and confront those in power.

Give us a voice that speaks with passion,
and a voice full of compassion;
a voice that is gentle,
and a voice that is angry.

When it would be easier to remain silent,
give us a voice that can speak with conviction.

 Give us a voice, and we will proclaim liberation.

 Voices long quiet will shout out.
Voices that have been silenced will emerge.
Voices that have been ignored will be raised.
Let it be.
 (Adapted from a poem with the same name by the National Commission for Mission of the Uniting Church in Australia)


 Silence


 May we be liberated from the chains of fear.
May we be freed from the closed circles of discrimination.
May we be liberated from the prisons of prejudice.
May we be freed from the confines of nationalism.
May we be liberated from hate, envy, apathy, and greed.
May we be freed from hostility, anger, violence, and injustice.
May we go forward in the way of peace and justice.
Let it be. 
 (Adapted from "Lord, Liberate Us" by John Johansen-Berg)


 *****


 Suggestions for Moving Forward
 1) Sign a petition surrounding a justice issue you care about.
 2) Talk with other people about the causes closest to your heart.
 3) While reading or watching the news, concentrate deeply, pray, or meditate on any injustices mentioned.
4) Leave a comment here if there's a specific justice you'd like to see a ritual focus on. I can't promise it will be quick, but I can promise it will be done.
 5) Consider donating time or money to an organization that works for justice.