Micah is my favorite prophet. That owes entirely to his venerated admonition on the Lord's behalf:
Do justice,
Love kindness,
Walk humbly with your God.
(from Micah 6:8)
It is a challenging and powerful mission statement!
So, I was thinking...
Public health officials (appropriately) and politicians (often inappropriately) dominate the pandemic discussion. What might a prophet have to say?
Woe to you!
Kingdom of America,
Nation of Contagion.
Fealty to your vaunted economy
tramples a withered humanity.
You abuse liberty.
You pervert the
“pursuit of happiness.”
550,000 pandemic dead.
Still, you resist masks,
even vaccinations.
You applaud reckless re-openings.
The common good takes a back seat
to red/blue politics
and your culture war.
You invite Divine cancelation!
Infectious
Communicable
Transmissible
...describe your grievances,
and your behavior,
but not your tepid faith.
Sick and selfish souls
are the real pandemic.
Are you so dull, so dim?
What part of this command
eludes your comprehension?
Love your neighbor as yourself.
(Mark 12:31)
This scolding
brings no pleasure.
Let my harsh tone convict.
Mend your ways!
Our God stands ready
to forgive, heal and restore.
Amen.
The prophet, for whom negativity is an occupational hazard, asked me to acknowledge the “love your neighbor” care and concern of essential workers, from nurses to grocery store cashiers. And for the mask wearers, the social distancers and the vaccinated.
