Advent is a reminder to see and honor the poor among us, who have endured and lived with injustices, oppression, sickness, and disenfranchisement all year long (and even all throughout their lives).
Many times we focus on the salvific power of Yeshua that we forget that he was poor. His parents were poor. How do we know…? Check out the scriptures about offerings for poor families dedicating of their firstborn sons and compare with the dedication of Yeshua as a baby (Luke 2:22-24).
He lived poor. He owned no house. He owned no form of transportation. He had no nice clothing. ….how do we know all these? Check out Matthew 8:18-20.
So this Advent as you prepare to relate with the poor at Christmas, you know, the visit to your soup kitchens for your one-day good deed of the year, remember that discrimination and inequality are precursors of poverty. Wherever injustice thrives, there also will poverty. Because injustices pervade our world, the poor live among us all year long and not just at Christmas. Commit to participating in year-round works of justice to alleviate the suffering of the poor all year round. Here are some ideas:
1. Consider running for and influencing public offices where you can help enact policies that help the poor.
2. Join advocacy groups and platforms like Voices of Color: Christians United that work year-round to call for adjustment of attitudes and practices towards the poor and the disenfranchised.
3. Work for diversity, inclusion, and economic justice practices and measures in your workplace, religious community and community of residence.
This Advent look at the poor and remember the Savior you worship lived and died poor and let that make a difference in how you relate with the poor.
–Oghene’tega
Hi, there!
This holiday season, we appeal to you to remember to shop VOCCU merch for your stocking stuffers and gifts to support our work. These are our small fundraising efforts to participate in bringing relief where policies have proved harmful to the lives of black, brown, poor and LGBTQIA people. Check out our:
1. VOCCU mugs ($25 +$6 for s&h: order through our PayPal or Venmo accounts and specify what your order is for);
2. VOCCU postcards (3 for $10). Order through voccu PayPal or Venmo and specify what you’re ordering and how many.
3. VOCCU book on Amazon, “Unfiltered In Our Own Voices: A Collection of Racial and Gender Equality Articles by Women of Color and Their Allies.” https://a.co/d/5GC8RyF);
4. VOCCU merchandise on VOCCU online shop (https://voicesofcolorchristiansunited.myspreadshop.com/).
5. You can also donate directly to VOCCU through: PayPal.me/voccu and Venmo: voccu.
Thanks for supporting our little efforts in bringing little cups of water to Yeshua’s thirsty body in the marginalized. We’re grateful to be walking this costly and sacrificial journey with you. There’s no liberation from injustices and oppression that come without the sacrificial use of our voices, platforms, times, resources, etc, and isn’t that what we celebrate at Christmas time, the sacrificial decision to be with us that brought us Yeshua? Let’s continue in his work as we give what we can to support the liberating work of Voices of Color: Christians United . Thank you!
Peace, Blessings and Happy Holidays!
Standing together for justice and equality at the intersection of race and gender 