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July 18, 2025

The Justice of Reconciliation

Nicolas Iglesias Schneider   |   Read Amos 8:4-6

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Lectionary Week
July 14–20, 2025
Scripture Overview

The texts for this week have common messages around reconciliation and justice. Human beings have distanced themselves from God’s project, which is based on love and justice for all created things. This project that Jesus defines as the “kingdom” encompasses the restoration of interpersonal, community, and ecological relationships. Some of the passages for this week challenge us to see how human beings have created unjust ways of living with one another. God does not forget those who suffer or those who live in poverty. God is also no stranger to evil. By integrating these lessons into our daily lives and communities, we can live an authentic faith that seeks justice, trusts in God, collaborates as a team, and reflects the love of Christ toward all human beings.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

:
• Read Amos 8:1-12. How can we echo the prophetic attitude inspired by the text of Amos at both our individual and community levels?
• Read Psalm 52. What experiences do you have in your daily life trusting the steadfast love of God?
• Read Luke 10:38-42. How can we work more as a team and value different ministries in our church and community work?
• Read Colossians 1:15-28. How can you discover the image of God in your neighbor? How can you live in unity and harmony in the midst of conflict and violence?

Respond by posting a prayer.

Amos 8:4-6

4 Hear this, you who trample on the needy and destroy the poor of the land, 5 saying, “When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath so that we may offer wheat for sale, make the ephah smaller, enlarge the shekel, and deceive with false balances, 6 in order to buy the needy for silver and the helpless for sandals, and sell garbage as grain?”

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

The core of the division we experience in our world is because we fail to recognize our neighbor as a beloved creation of God. The prevailing logic is that of animosity, that others are out to get us, and that we must look after ourselves only.

In Colossians 1:21-22, we...

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O God, help us remember the importance of cultivating things that do not have a market value: relationships, time together, love, and the practice of mercy. Amen.


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