Video Study Guides
Discussion
Psalm 146 sets the bar for God’s people by laying out precisely what God desires for God’s eternal reign: justice for “the oppressed,” “the hungry,” “prisoners,” those who are “blind” and “bowed down,” “strangers,” “the orphan” and “the widow.” It reminds us not only who needs justice but also that their justice will come alongside a new reign that will last forever.
The imagery of an eternal reign calls us to recognize that when the oppressed are lifted up, all the forces holding them down will be reversed. Those structures are not named here, so we look to our Lutheran faith to fill in the gaps, to provide a bridge between the world’s oppression and God’s just future.
In that gap, we find intersectional justice ministry: ministry that addresses root causes, that effects lasting change, invoked by a promise that God will “reign forever.” Providing relief to folks in immediate need is critical because that can move them into situations where they can change their life conditions. But meeting immediate needs is not a sustainable model of justice ministry, because (1) people need dependable, long-term solutions to their challenges and (2) injustice perpetuates unjust conditions in the world.
As you watch this final clip from “Intersections,” bear in mind that its stories arise from patterns of injustice: people are forced to migrate because of gender inequity; they leave home because their colonized countries lack the work opportunities of wealthier — and whiter — countries; climate change is making life more precarious and unaffordable in places where disasters are becoming more common.
- Challenge yourself to identify “root causes” of hunger and poverty when you watch this clip. A “root cause” forces many people to live without basic needs, regardless of their lifestyle; it lies outside their control.
- List three or more root causes of migration that are evident in this clip.
- Compare your list with those of others in your group. Do the lists share any causes in common?
- What root causes, especially those your group noted in common, could you begin confronting in your community?
- Recall the MERGE justice categories (migrant justice, economic justice, racial justice, gender justice and environmental justice) from the previous session. How do some of these overlap in the stories recounted in this clip?
- Immigration is a charged issue right now. Take time to talk about it.
- Discuss with your group how this clip makes you feel. Make space for all people to speak freely and without interruption.
- Next take a few minutes to write briefly about what causes you to feel this way. Here are some prompts to help you reflect:
- What values do you hold that these stories addressed? Maybe one of the people portrayed crossed an ethical line or excited you otherwise.
- Were your preconceptions challenged by the stories you heard?
- Do you have a story about migration, either your own or that of someone you know?
- What feelings were expressed by those telling their own migration stories? How do you relate to those feelings?
Recommended Resources for Action and Learning
- ELCA AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrants with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities) has created a number of resources to help people in faith communities to view migration as something experienced by God’s children and as an issue with which citizens all over the world must wrestle.
- “The Migrant Journey.” This guide educates participants about the factors driving people to flee their homes and about the obstacles they face.
- “Words Create Worlds.” This guide explores the power of language to shape perceptions on migration and offers tips for analyzing words and their potential impact.
- The partners and ministries you have learned about this Advent are part of a global church we share. Your Advent generosity through ELCA World Hunger is one way we can continue to accompany communities near and far. With the gifts you have collected throughout this season, consider a donation to ELCA World Hunger.
