Reflection for July 4, 2017

"Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land,saying, “When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain;
and the sabbath,   so that we may offer wheat for sale?
We will make the ephah small and the shekel great,  and practice deceit with false balances, buying the poor for silver   and the needy for a pair of sandals,
    and selling the sweepings of the wheat.”(Amos 8:4-6)

Today we celebrate the birth of our nation.  There will be parades, patriotic ceremonies, back yard barbecues and fireworks!  All of this as we recognize the greatest country in the world.  One built on the premise of a new start for the tired and the oppressed in other lands.  Where everyone is supposed to have an opportunity to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

And while our ideals our strong, they are not always lived out.  And the words that the prophet Amos reports that those with economic power said in his day, are still true today.  We as a country can and should do better.  We need to expose greed and dishonesty that takes advantage of the less fortunate in our midst.

Blessings,

Ed