by Annika John
justice -- the central theme of the good news of Jesus
erased
from the English New Testament
Blue, Red, & Gold Bible: 0
Darby Bible: 0
King James Version: 0
Worldwide English Version: 0
justice -- the nourishing wholeness of the Divine
starved
from the scriptures of my childhood
American Standard Version: 3
English Standard Version: 11
New International Version: 15
justice -- the movement of God to restore all things
encountered
in la lengua del cielo
Reina Valera 1960: 97
La Biblia de las Américas: 101
Nueva Versión Internacional: 102
God-breathed scripture
filling lungs with God-breath
bodies find a home in the good news
nourished, restored:
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are the persecuted for the sake of justicia
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justicia
for they will be satisfied.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God, and his justicia
and all these things shall be added unto you.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-inspired
and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in justicia.
1 Peter 2:24 He Himself, in His body, took our sins to the cross,
that we might die to sin and live for justicia.
2 Peter 3:13 But according to His promise
we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth
where justicia dwells.
Who then, is to teach us the way of justice?
Los abuelos y abuelas
in the aging houses
on the forgotten streets of el barrio
with tattered bibles at their bedside
Los inmigrantes
gathered together at la frontera
testifying of a Living Word
who journeys beside them
Las madres
stroking the hair of little ones
telling stories of protection from La Palabra
as moonlight streaks their street corners
where scattered, wilted flowers frame the photos
of beloved sons
May we sit at the feet of the ones on the margins
who hold this sacred, scandalous truth:
the God of the Bible
is the God of justicia
Image by Daniel Sunkari via Midjourney
Annika is part of the Servant Partners team in San Jose, California. She directs the Youth Squad at Shalom Iglesia del Pacto.