Lament

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
2 Cor. 1:3-5

The path from apathy to advocacy leads through lament. First, we must confront the truth of injustice, but then respond to it, and that means to lament. But when we lament, we don’t do it alone or in our own power–that would lead us to despair. Instead, the “God of all comfort” is with us, and He is the one who “comforts us in all our troubles.”

But then there is a surprise! God’s comfort is not only for our own comfort–it is a boundless resource and allows us to “comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” God comforts us not so that we can feel better (although it might happen), but so that we can ourselves become comforters to others. In other words, by lamenting, and receiving the comfort of God, He gives us a spiritual power for our path toward advocacy.

Mother Teresa said: “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” By acknowledging injustice, and by lamenting the hurt with God, God produces a spiritual power in us to overcome hurt by offering love.

But love is not cheap. Tomorrow, we will reflect on the sacrifice that love requires.

Exercise:

Read a story, watch a movie, or listen to someone who has experienced injustice. Ask God to give you love and compassion toward that individual or group.