Lent 2026 Guide-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 9
Devotion 2
Inspiration
For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I
was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed
me; sick and in prison, and you visited me. – Matthew 25:35-36
“O Holy Night”, A hymn by Adophe Adam (1847)
The third verse of “O Holy Night” is most meaningful to me.
Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and his gospel is peace.
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, and in his name all
oppression will cease.
Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is
sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands
of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands
against love. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Love without power is sentimentality. Power without love is tyranny.
Love and power in proper proportion is justice. – Rev. Bill Cotton, a UMC
minister and early AMOS leader.
Love is listening. – Paul Tillich
Reflection
Jesus calls us to care for one another. Our faith calls us to listen in love to our
neighbors, to hear their concerns, to build organized power to implement the
demands of justice. Our faith calls us to social justice work within Plymouth
Church and in the community. Our work with AMOS pairs listening with
love for our neighbors and our community, hearing their concerns; then,
building power paired with love to ben the arc towards justice.
Jesus told us to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, visit the sick,
clothe the naked, invite strangers into our homes, visit those in prison.
Love is listening to the concerns of others. Love and power in proper
proportion is justice. Powerful words for justice work.
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