Wednesday 14 December

A rainstorm seen across the plain from drought-stricken Maralal, Kenya. [Dominic Nahr]

Let the clouds pour down saving justice, let the earth open up and blossom with salvation, and let justice sprout with it. (Isaiah 45:8)

The reading from Isaiah today tells us something of God’s justice – that it is not supposed to be limited to a few, it should be everywhere, accessible to all. It should rain down from the clouds and sprout up from the earth.

People living in poverty juggle all kinds of challenges every day, including famine, drought and natural disasters. Climate change adds to this burden, as many people are already feelings its effects. Their traditional ways of coping, which have been passed down through the generations, are no longer working. People need new methods of adapting – like growing drought resilient crops in Kenya, or protecting homes against flooding in Bangladesh.

Just as a plant needs nourishment to grow and sprout, we are called to enable justice to sprout in our world, so that all people have the chance to flourish in the wonderful Creation that God has given us.

Creator God, may we be bearers of your justice so that all your creation may flourish. Amen.

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