Advent daybook, 13: you who exploit the poor, listen

My Advent daybook for these 24 days of waiting. Join me, won't you? (see previous Advent daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

Bangladeshi garment workers - source

West Virginia coal miner - source

Working Class: A Farmer Working in a Chicken House, Kilpatrick, Alabama, 2012, Joshua Dudley Greer - source

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read

Amos 8:4-12(MSG):Listen to this, you who walk all over the weak, you who treat poor people as less than nothing, Who say "When's my next paycheck coming so I can go out and live it up? How long till the weekend when I can go out and have a good time?" [...] You exploit the poor, using them - and then, when they're used up, you discard them.

all readings for the day: Isaiah 12:2-6; Amos 8:4-12; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Read this also:

"The growth of the exploiters' revolution on this continent has been accompanied by the growth of the idea that work is beneath human dignity, particularly any form of hand work. We have made it our overriding ambition to escape work, and as a consequence have debased work until it is only fit to escape from. We have debased the products of work and have been, in turn, debased by them. [...] We have tried to escape the sweat and sorrow promised in Genesis - only to find that, in order to do so, we must forswear love and excellence, health and joy." ("The Unsettling of America" by Wendell Berry)

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pray

Out of the embrace of mercy and righteousness, you have brought forth joy and dignity for your people, O Holy One of Israel. Remember now your ancient promise: make straight the paths that lead to you, and smooth the rough ways, that in our day we might bring forth your compassion for all humanity. Amen. (source)

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listen

Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder, Handel's Messiah / Robert Shaw Chorale & Orchestra

(Also, feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Advent playlist or a growing Advent Orchestral/Choral playlist on Spotify.)

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do

Make simple homemade gifts to hand out to the people you appreciate in your community.

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(see all Advent daybook posts from 2014 here)