Sunday, December 14, 2003
Zephaniah 3:14-20

There is a saying among Hispanics, "Dios, mándame más, que más me merezco". A literal translation could be: "God, send me more, because I deserve more." This saying reflects a fatalistic way of thinking calling us to accept all pain and all problems in life in silence and resignation. We need to accept everything that comes because that is the way it is. It is not only fatalistic, but it fosters a passive way of viewing and living the life that God has given us.

This form of thinking has been used against Hispanics and other racial groups in many countries around the world. One day, a friend of mine said to me: "Diego, don't you think that Americans are more intelligent than we are?" Suffering has led many of us to believe that we are second class citizens.

Zephaniah helps me to understand that instead of a second class life or an eternal suffering, God is giving us hope and encouragement. Maybe this moment is one of suffering and pain, but it will not last forever. The oppression will end and we will be set free!

Zephaniah knew about oppression. His people, according to the scripture, were in exile. They might have felt that God had abandoned them and that their captives were having a great time abusing them. In exile, Zephaniah reminds us that the people were suffering the consequences of their own sins and mistakes. But he also reminded his people that God's mercy was at hand, right around the corner.

God, through Zephaniah, was giving his people hope. God did not want to perpetuate the pain of the people. On the contrary, God was and is looking to restore people. That has been His plan from the very beginning! In the midst of bad times, God is reassuring the Israelites -- and us -- that better days will come and God himself guarantees it: "The Lord has spoken."

In this time of Advent, Zephaniah helps us to understand in our hearts and minds that as human beings and as Christians there is hope and we will be liberated from all oppression. Not by our own hands, but by the mighty power of a God that is taking care of us all. The God that gave us His own Son Jesus Christ to save us does not discriminate against us. He cares not what our color of skin is or what language we speak.

For Zephaniah, these were words of Good News of salvation and of hope in the future. Today, we can experience what Zephaniah experienced even if we sometimes think that we live in a strange land, even if the world is going in the wrong direction.

We can be beacons of light allowing God to shine through us, singing with joy and rejoicing, knowing that God will soon bring to an end the pain and the suffering in our lives. Thank you, Jesus!

Diego Orsini

All contents copyright 2003 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Permission is granted to United Methodist congregations, individuals and groups to reproduce and distribute this devotional without charge. All other use requires the advance permission of the editor.