May the mumbling commence!
Are you willing to stand in the gap? In the days of Ezekiel, there was no one found to stand in the gap. It can be a lonely place to be, when the rest of the world ignores its Creator. Read from the end of Ezekiel 22:
There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says' – when the Lord has not spoken. The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice.
I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord." (Verses 25-31)
What a sad state of affairs! At all levels, there is corruption and deceit. Princes, priests and officials have no scruples; so it is no surprise when the people lack scruples, too. And, to make matters worse, the prophets attempt to cover over the deeds with false visions and lying divinations. It is no wonder that the poor, needy and alien are the most vulnerable in those days. They are the most vulnerable today as well.
There are many undocumented immigrants working sweat-shop-like jobs for a meager wage. They sweat in the fields at harvest, they sweat in the factories, and they sweat in the kitchens of restaurants. They fill the jobs that no one else in this country would agree to do. Employers take advantage of them in order to bring a less costly product. Whether we know it or not, you and I benefit from the degradation of these vulnerable brothers and sisters of ours.
You and I may think: “Everyone is doing it. What good can I do all by myself?” It is easier to go on the path of the least resistance. It is easier to be a part of the crowd. To take a stand for justice would mean a significant adjustment in our lifestyles. To take a stand for justice would mean being hated and scoffed at by most people. It takes a lot of courage to stand in the gap as it continues to widen between the have and have nots.
But stand is what the Lord is calling us to do. Will anyone answer the call? Or will there be no one to answer the call like in the days of Ezekiel?
Let us begin the conversation for concrete ways to stand in the gap for the most vulnerable in our communities – the single parents, the widows (and widowers), the orphans, the undocumented immigrants, the working poor… The list can go on and on. It is not a question as to what shall we do. It is a question of where can we start. How can we have the most impact individually and corporately?
Guide us, O Holy Spirit.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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