Black Friday?

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Scripture Zechariah 7:8-13

8 And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 9 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” 11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. 12 They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts. 13 “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the Lord of hosts

 

Meditation:

            Today is “black Friday”, the day when our country sinks into a cesspool of greed and hedonism. The strange thing is that it comes the day after thanksgiving. A day to give thanks for what we already have. A day that should be an announcement of our contentment with our material goods.

            Yet the next day declares that all our thanksgiving was a lie. As we seek to find more and more stuff for ourselves and others. Waiting in long lines to get in and out of stores shows our steadfast resistance to contentment and thanksgiving for what we already have obtained. Our bull-headed desire for more and better are given full vent on this day.

            Black Friday originally got its name because this was the day that the merchants finally went into the black in their sales. I can think of a new reason for that moniker. Today is black because it shows the greed and the lack of thankfulness that we are capable of displaying.

            Instead of staying home and enjoying our family and the things that the Lord has provided we rush out to acquire more things and stuff. Today would be a good time to hear and obey the words of the prophet Zechariah. Instead of throwing elbows as we get in line for to pay for more stuff, we could show kindness to the poor and helpless at the margins of society. We could make this day two of thanksgiving that would last all year long. Join me in continuing to give thanks.

 

Prayer:

Dear holy Father, help us to continue to give thanks this day. Help us to realize that we already have more than enough already. Teach us that black Friday is just a marketing illusion to make us discontent with what we already have. Help us seek to please you on this day. Help us to be content with what we have and to have soft hearts toward are less fortunate neighbors and friends and to give to each one that is in need. Amen.

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