The Justice League

February 10, 2019

SMUMC

Known and Called

Known To Stand: Called to Justice

Matthew 21:12-13

Psalm 138

“Justice League…”

Prayer…

Please stand, as you are able, for the reading of the Gospel according to Matthew. Chapter 21 verses 12-13. Listen to and for a Word from God for you and I…standing in the gap for others…

Cleansing the Temple Complex

¹² Jesus went into the temple complex and drove out all those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers’ tables and the chairs of those selling doves. ¹³ And He said to them, “It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer. But you are making it a den of thieves!”

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic
for which it stands,
one Nation under God,
indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all

Good Morning! The Justice League… The seven original members were Aquaman, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Superman and Wonder Woman…there were others that were added and killed off as the years went by. But the one thing that they all stood for…justice. Justice for the poor…justice for the oppressed…bringing bad guys to justice… Baseball…Hotdogs…Apple Pie…Justice League… how American…

In our Pledge of Allegiance…we claim liberty and justice for all. But is that how we are as humanity? Are we fighting for the underdog or are we fighting for our own agenda? Are we concerned with those in need or do we put our own needs first? Are we standing in the gap for those who are in need of…fill in the blank…or are widening the gap?

I know that it is hard to stand for justice…there is so many out there that would fight against justice. Ut hasn’t changed much. In Jesus day there was injustice too. But He took a stand.

In the scripture that I read this morning, we hear about how Jesus was so upset with the injustice in the temple that He showed His humanness…fully human, fully divine. Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t think that Jesus was upset because these money changers were selling the animals for sacrifice. They needed to recoup the money because they had raised these animals fed them. They needed to at least get the money they spent. Otherwise they could not continue to help others by selling the animals for them to sacrifice for their sins.

Jesus was upset because they were taking advantage of the people. Charging them too much…probably extorting money…stealing from the temple. There was an injustice happening there…right in God’s house. They were not concerned for the people…

Jesus was all about justice and helping people receive justice…have a chance at a good life. We hear many accounts of Jesus healing the sick so that they would no longer be on the outside of society but be able to live a life free of their oppressor…their sickness. He stood for God’s justice as He stood in the gap for the woman caught in adultery. This is just a couple on examples of Jesus seeking and bringing justice for those who had none.

We…as Christians…are also called to stand in the gap for others. We are called to seek justice for the oppressed…as the Psalmist wrote…we are all fearfully and wonderfully made by God…even those on the margins who lack justice…Jesus told us to go and do likewise. He commissioned us:

¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

To observe and teach what He taught…justice for all…to love all…to value all life…to reach those who are oppressed and bring them to the justifying grace of God…not by the worlds standards but heavenly standards… We need to be Heavens Justice League bring justice and hope for a new day by standing in the gap for those who cannot…even with the ones who can…

As we gather around the communion table this morning, the table that reminds us again and again that we are to proclaim God’s justice, let us break open our lives and pour out our love to make of a better world. As Jesus stood in the gap, and became a bridge across the canyon of injustice, we too are called to stand in the gap for those who need a bridge to freedom. Just a thought…

one Nation under God,
indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all

Amen.