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The theme for our reflection is “defend the oppressed.” To defend means “resist an attack made on (someone or something) or to protect someone from harm or danger. To be oppressed means to be exploited or systematically harmed by others. As part of our calling as believers or disciples of Christ, we have the mandate to defend the oppressed. The God we worship is the God of the oppressed. Throughout Scripture, we see God identifying with the oppressed and His liberating intervention directly or indirectly. It is for this reason that all forms of oppression or oppressive conduct must be eschewed among God’s people. The Israelites were told by the Prophet Isaiah that so long as oppression existed among them, they were unclean. “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah 1:16-17)

We must be watchful so that we do not become part of an oppressive regime. The court is not the only place where the oppressed are defended. The Church and for that matter believers or Christians must be sensitive to the plight of the vulnerable in our society and lawfully resist any law, policy or economic arrangement that burdens the less privileged or vulnerable groups such orphans, widows, aged or the defenseless in our societies. The Church is a fellowship or community of hope for the oppressed. The Church must not only use the pulpit to defend the oppressed but must pragmatically institute a ministry that identifies the plight of the oppressed and consistently defend them. Our worship is unwholesome, and we remain unclean as believers if we pretend to be living in a just society. We are certainly hypocrites if we preach love and peace when just at the entrance of our chapels or in the vicinity where our chapels are located, there are obvious acts or signs of oppression. We are not called to speak only but also act, Jesus did not only preach but also saved the oppressed. There were people who were oppressed by the unjust religious and political regime, and others were oppressed by evil spirits, Jesus Christ defended the oppressed wherever He was. He confronted the oppressive and hypocritical behaviour of Pharisees when He said to them “Woe to you Pharisees because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.” (Luke 11:42). Similarly, He also confronted the Scribes, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.” (Luke 11:46). Clearly, we remain unclean if we oppress others for whatever reason. We must allow love, justice, and respect for human dignity to govern our relationships and interactions with others. Paul admonishes us that “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). It takes the unconditional love of Christ in us to defend the oppressed. We have been called as Christian politicians, lawyers, judges, lecturers, civil servants, police, nurses, doctors, engineers, soldiers, businessmen and women to practice our faith even at our workplaces and in our communities by loving and defending the oppressed wherever we find ourselves. God will not forsake if we obey Him and do His will. Isaiah assured the Israelites, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 1:19-20. ) In other words, when we refuse to defend the oppressed very soon, the oppressor will come knocking on our doors, and in some situations, there could be rebellion that will lead to a chaotic society. There will be peace in our societies if we defend the oppressed. Pope Paul VI said, “If you want peace, work for justice,” Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, empower us and use us as instruments of transformation in defending the oppressed in our societies. Amen.