November 30th

Thus says the LORD:
For three transgressions of Israel,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;
because they sell the righteous for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals —
they who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth,
and push the afflicted out of the way;
(Amos 2:6-7a)

you come,
not for the soft carols we sing,
but because you hear the whispers
of cities under rocket attacks.
you come,
not to be warmed by our candles,
but because of the voices filled
with the bitter chill of cruelty.
you come,
because you love too fiercely
to let things stay as they are,
while we would avoid the forgotten,
we would ignore the cries of innocence,
we would shrug at injustice.
so come,
even for us who are longing for
new carols from the angels
not the rumblings of God
trying to wake us up.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman