Give Feely So Others Can Breathe Freely

Love for One Another Inclusive Love Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)    Loving Your Neighbor Deuteronomy 15:7-11 New International Version 7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land, the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this, the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. For Reflection Economic and spiritual poverty are suffocating. There will always be people in need. It is quite unlikely we will ever have a seventh-year debt forgiveness law. But the law is not the compelling reason to forgive debt, or, for that matter, charge interest rates that border on usury, prohibitive health insurance expenses, or a wage that cannot possibly cover minimal living expenses.  Somebody levies these payments and charges. Somebody can also institute payments and charges that do not throw people into despair. Chanting, "I can't breathe," is not just a cry for justice. "I can't breath" is also a lament of desperation and hopelessness. It is moaning for compassionate mercy. It is a mourning bellow for the loss of a sustainable life. Pray Pray so that you will bring, compassionate mercy to all of your interactions with others whose lives are lived in economic and spiritual poverty. Forward to a friend