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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is tears of the oppressed. An oppressed person is a person subjected to harsh and authoritarian treatment. King Solomon reflects on the plight of the oppressed and said “Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3) In other words, the unborn are better of than the dead and the living because of the level of oppression found under the sun.

The question is, who are the oppressed in our societies today? The oppressed in our societies are those who are paid less for the work they do. The oppressed are the poor and vulnerable who are mostly affected by the inconsiderate government policies that favours the rich but further impoverish the poor. The oppressed are people are mostly affected by the poor management of the economy by the government. The oppressed are people who suffer due to the injustice in our judicial system. Christians must be the voice of the voiceless and hope for the oppressed in the environment of injustice, inequality and unfair distribution of wealth. Christians must preach about social justice to correct the wrongs in our societies against the oppressed and even go a step further to speak truth to power on issues of gender based violence, racial injustice and the dignity of all persons regardless of their religion, political affiliation or tribe. Jesus’ earthy ministry was centered on setting the oppressed free, it is for this reason, He said “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19) Dear friend, as a believer be sensitive to the plight and tears of the oppresed and “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. “Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8-9). Shalom.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, awaken in us a good conscience to appreciate the suffering and tears of the oppressed and make us the voice of the voiceless and liberators of the oppressed. Amen.