A FORUM FOR COMMUNITY ISSUES : Sermon / ADVICE FROM THE CLERGY : On Moral Responsibility

T zedek, tzedek, tirdof-- justice, justice shall you pursue.

O Lord, your command to us is clear. The pursuit of justice is what you require of us in all our dealings.

But our city is divided, distressed, demoralized. Distrust seems to be everywhere roundabout. No one knows who or what to believe in. Following the flame has come the blame born, too, from frustration and anger and confusion. One group fears to trust another. There have been too many violations. There is too little hope. Communities face off, one against another.

Even within communities, there is a struggle, accusations, blame. Everyone knows what is rightfully his or hers. We each call for equality for our own. But in troubled times, in times of scarcity and want, as we hurry to protect our own, we trample over one another, we violate someone else to save ourselves.

Tzedek, tzedek, tirdof-- justice, justice shall you pursue.

O Lord, your command to us is clear. And you charge us with greater moral responsibility, those of us who would lead, those of us who will decide the future of our city, the fate of our people.

How can we expect our people to break down the barriers between us? How can we expect our people to reach out to one another? How can we expect our people to stand up for one another, for each other’s rights? How can we expect our people to trust one another and to become trustworthy if we, their leaders, cannot.

Tzedek, tzedek, tirdof-- justice, justice shall you pursue.

Help us, O Lord, to think in clarity, to speak with honesty. To judge fairly. And at every point along the way to pursue justice.