by 
Monday, November 28
He comes to break oppression, to set the captives free.
From Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
By Rev. Don Zumwalt
This hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 72, which calls the people of God to gladly welcome the One Anointed by God to bring in a world-wide era of the reign of God’s justice and mercy.
The key words are the third line of stanza one: “He comes to break oppression, to set the captives free.” (The Message Bible translates it, “Please stand up for the poor, help the children of the needy, come down hard on the cruel tyrants.”)
Advent is the time to prepare for the coming of the Lord, not just as the sweet baby, Jesus, but as the Righteous One, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Prince of Peace. Let us not utter empty praises, nor tolerate those who terrorize the people of God, especially the poor and needy.
We must speak out and take action against those who gain great treasures at the expense of the downtrodden. We must teach the leaders of the world the value of honest, fair, and compassionate practices. This must include treatment and compensation of the workers who produce the goods.
Prayer: Dear God you have made clear the values and standards of decency through which all people have an opportunity to thrive. You call us to be kind, generous, caring, peaceful and fair in our dealings with all. This Advent show us how to break oppression, help the needy, and come down hard on cruel tyrants, in government, and in business, and even in the church. Amen
