Creator Sets Free
Luke 13:10-17 (First Nations Version)
On another Day of Resting, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was teaching at a gathering house. 11There was a woman there who had a spirit of weakness for eighteen winters. Her back was bent and twisted, so she could not stand up straight. 12When Creator Sets Free (Jesus) saw her, he told her to come to him and said, “Honored woman, you are set free from your weakness.” 13He put his hands on her, and right away she stood up straight and gave thanks to the Great Spirit. 14The headman of the gathering house was offended because Creator Sets Free (Jesus) had healed on the Day of Resting. He stood up and told the people, “Are there not six other days to do your work? Come on one of those days to be healed, not on the Day of Resting.” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) helped the woman back to her seat. He then turned to the headman with a look of sorrow mixed with anger on his face. 15“You who wear false faces!” he said to the headman. “Is there anyone who would not untie his horse on the Day of Resting and take it to a watering hole? 16This woman is a daughter of Father of Many Nations (Abraham). Accuser (Satan), that evil trickster, has kept her this way for eighteen winters. Why should she not be set free on the Day of Resting?” 17The enemies of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) were put to shame by his words, but the hearts of the people jumped for joy because of the wonderful things he was doing.
M. Wildman, Terry. First Nations Version (p. 137). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
https://www.breachrepairers.org
The Third Reconstruction is written by the Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. In this book they outline 14 steps towards liberation and justice work that is needed in our time as a wave of “the Third Reconstruction.”
1. Engage in indigenously led grassroots organizing across the state
2. Use moral language to frame and critique public policy, regardless of who is in power.
3. Demonstrate a commitment to civil disobedience that follows the steps of nonviolent action and is designed to change the public conversation and consciousness.
4. Build a stage from which to lift the voices of everyday people impacted by immoral policies.
5. Recognize the centrality of race.
6. Build a broad, diverse coalition including moral and religious leaders of all faiths.
7. Intentionally diversify the movement with the goal of winning unlikely allies.
8. Build transformative, long-term coalition relationships rooted in a clear agenda that doesn’t measure success only by electoral outcomes
9. Make a serious commitment to academic and empirical analysis of policy.
10. Coordinate use of all forms of social media: video, text, Twitter, Facebook, and so forth.
11. Engage in voter registration and education.
12. Pursue a strong legal strategy.
13. Engage the cultural arts.
14. Resist the “one moment” mentality; we are building a movement! No one victory will usher in beloved community; no single setback can stop us. We are building up a new world, moving forward together toward freedom and justice for all.
