Micah 6:8 In My Own Words

There's a song that's been in my head for a couple weeks and to be completely honest, it has worn out its welcome. We Are Called

I've talked it over with friends, family, and my spiritual guide with no change in its daily appearance. So it must be time to break it down into my own words. Some of the lyrics will be familiar to you because they are taken directly from Micah 6:8

We are called to act with justice, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with God.

These words are so familiar but what do they mean, really? Some of us grew up with them and memorized them. We sing them in church, we even see them painted on school walls. As Jesus would say later hundreds of years later, "It is mercy, I desire, not sacrifice." These 16 words are the simplest form in which God could call us to discipleship and worship. Believe it or not, God was not in search of rams or doves or rivers of oil; God only wanted us to see what it was to act with justice, love and humility.

Act with Justice

We are called to be fair in all of our actions; honest and impartial, no matter whom we encounter. Treat each other as you would your mother or your siblings. That's right, if you wouldn't do it to your mom, don't do it to anyone else. In the words of Father Greg Boyle, SJ, "There is no other and them, only us." We are all one so our treatment of each person should be and must be universal. God calls us to see one another as God sees us. Each of us is uniquely and wonderfully made in the image of God. Every one of us carries the moniker, Beloved.

Love Tenderly (Kindness)

Our love for one another must be, above all else, generous and without end. Jesus modeled for us the limitlessness of God's love in his parables and actions. There is plenty to go around. Many westerners live their life with the scarcity model of money and goods but God's love is counter-cultural. God is lavish and unsparing with love for all. All are welcome. And included in that love is mercy and forgiveness. Just like God's love, it is intended for everyone - no matter what. It too, has no boundaries.

Walk Humbly with God

We are invited to walk with God each and every day This is a relationship of accompaniment; God wants to be a part of our lives side by side, to mourn our sorrows and celebrate our joys. We walk together co-creating our life, each day finding ways to mesh God's will with our own free will. In our relationship, we bear in mind that we are the created alongside of the Creator.  We acknowledge the magnitude of God and attempt to follow in the footsteps of Jesus finding ways to control our own selfish wishes and desires. Daily, we return to this challenge of humility.

Act, love, walk are all verbs and all require action in relationship with one another and with our God. As we incorporate these actions into our lives and with one another, we are building community; the kingdom of God here on earth. Humans tend to want to make the call to discipleship difficult or more complicated by making up rules and expectations. But this is what's needed: acts of justice, love, and humility from each of us. No one said it would be easy but I'm excited to be bringing these words to life (and hopefully get the song out of my head).