Blog Posts By God's Politics Editor

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgements, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. - Zechariah 7:9-10 + Sign up to receive our social justice verse of the day via e-mail

[People] invent means and methods of coming at God’s love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God’s presence. Yet it might be so simple. Is it not quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love of him? - Brother Lawrence + Sign up to receive our quote of the day via e-mail

Though you are worthy of trumpets and the song of angels, you graciously receive our daily prayers of whispered words and mundane habits. Enable us, Lord, to love you with all that we are and in all that we do. Teach us how we might truly pray without ceasing. Amen.-From Common Prayer

To be fully human, we must recognize the full humanity of all other people.  - Lisa Lofland Gould + Sign up to receive our quote of the day via e-mail

May we respect ourselves and others. May we always keep tame that which rages in us. May we accustom ourselves to be gentle and never be angry with people because of circumstances. -Adapted from Eusebius' Prayer

O house of David! Thus says the Lord: Execute justice in the morning, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed, or else my wrath will go forth like fire, and burn, with no one to quench it, because of your evil doings.  - Jeremiah 21:12 + Sign up to receive our social justice verse of the day via e-mail

I have learned that when we begin listening to each other, and when we talk about things that matter to us, the world begins to change. Human conversation is the most ancient and easiest way to cultivate the conditions of change — personal change, community, and organizational change. - Margaret Wheatley + Sign up to receive our quote of the day via e-mail

Lord, we pray not to get lost in the reality of our own depravity, but rather to find ourselves morning by morning in the light of your mercy and redemption. Amen.

Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said. Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. - Amos 5:14-15 + Sign up to receive our social justice verse of the day via e-mail

Above all, do not lose hope. - Pi Patel -From Life of Pi, while Pi is stranded in the middle of the ocean with a bengal tiger + Sign up to receive our quote of the day via e-mail

God, your word instructs us to be ready to give an answer for the faith that is within us. When that time comes, Lord, make us bold to proclaim that your love surpasses human knowledge. Let our answer be actions that mirror your love. Amen.

I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. That one is like a [person] building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a [person] who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house. - Luke 6:47-49 + Sign up to receive our social justice verse of the day via e-mail

Bishop Jane Dixon, 75, died in her sleep on Christmas Day, according to the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. Dixon was the second woman consecrated as bishop in the Episcopal Church and the third in Anglican Communion.A champion for justice and equality, Dixon was selected three times byWashingtonian magazine as one of the 100 most influential women in the Washington metropolitan area. In January 2002, she was named a Washingtonian of the Year. From Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of Washington: Called to serve at a time when some refused to accept the authority of a woman bishop, Jane led with courage and conviction, and sometimes at great personal cost.  She demonstrated that same bravery and grace when she brought hope and healing to our country by officiating at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance service at Washington National Cathedral following the tragedy on 9/11.   Jane was a fighter for equality and social justice and this led her to speak at the White House against hate crimes and to stand for inclusiveness within the Episcopal Church.  'Jane is a person who has the courage of her convictions but the grace and humility to know that none of us can equate our ways with God's ways, our thoughts with God's thoughts,' said the late Verna Dozier, Jane’s longtime mentor, in the sermon she preached at Jane’s consecration.Dixon is survived by her husband of 52 years, David McFarland Dixon, Sr., her three children, and six grandchildren.  

Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ - Matthew 19:21 + Sign up to receive our social justice verse of the day via e-mail

Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it. - Helen Keller + Sign up to receive our quote of the day via e-mail

Lord, we pray that you would give our leaders wisdom in reaching an agreement on the Fiscal Cliff. Stir them to protect the vulnerable in their negotiations. Amen.

But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practised, without neglecting the others. - Luke 11:42 + Sign up to receive our social justice verse of the day via e-mail

The Verse and Voice will not be available on the blog from December 21, 2012 through January 1, 2013. Please check your daily emails for the latest quotes, scripture passages, and prayers from Sojourners. If you don't have already have a Verse and Voice subscription, you can subscribe here.

'Peace upon earth!' was said. We sing it, and pay a million priests to bring it. After two thousand years of mass we've got as far as poison-gas. - Thomas Hardy From "Christmas: 1924" + Sign up to receive our quote of the day via e-mail

Heavenly Father, open our hearts to the silent presence of the spirit of your Son. Lead us into that mysterious silence where your love is revealed to all who call — Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus. -A Prayer by John Main, OSB

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. - Psalm 147:3 + Sign up to receive our social justice verse of the day via e-mail

True contemplatives, then, must do justice, must speak justice, must insist on justice. ... And so must we do whatever justice must be done in our time if we claim to be serious about sinking into the heart of God. - Joan Chittister  -From Illuminated Life + Sign up to receive our quote of the day via e-mail

Please pray for the victims and families affected by the shooting this morning in Connecticut.