Migrant Workers' Resolve and Commitment

Our Resolve and Commitment
Text: Joshua 24: 14-15
Kasammako Assbly
24 January 2012
By Frank Hermando

Joshua 24:14-15 (RSV)

14 "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

15 And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

MEDITATION
1. Occasions like this reminds me of the many general assemblies and conferences I've attended throughout my adult life. 

2. What makes a conference or a general assembly stands out among others is the culmination through renewal of commitment to the vision, mission and goals of the church denomination or an organization or a political party. 

3. The text I have chosen for this meditation is the narration of the biblical writer about the general assembly that Joshua and the elders of the Israelite tribal confederacy held for covenant renewal in Shechem. Biblical historians locate this event at around 1100 BCE, the time when the Israelite tribal confederacy was consolidated and the predominantly peasant nation had established its basic social support systems such as the land tenure system, where each family was assigned an agricultural land to till, justice system carried out by both the elders and the judges, polItical and ethical leadership by the elders and prophets and the people's army, which was more of guerilla force than a standby army. Social stability depended on the quality of life ensured by the tribal confederacy.

4.  The most compelling statement Joshua said to the Israelites was "choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

5. Choosing the god that people will serve was very important because who and what people had been serving determines the kind and quality of life they will have. When people serve the gods of the Canaanites they will have economic prosperity, but not social justice, they may have social security but only for the landlords. Israel's tribal confederacy has Yahweh, the God who freed them from slavery in Egypt and guided them to forge unity through a covenant. A covenant is similar to a constitution of a nation and of an orgnization. 

6. A covenant embodies the highest aspirations of the people who went through difficultsituations. It is a resolve to live in community of equals rather than of master-slave relationships.

7. Choosing the biblical God Yahweh as the center of our life as a nation as Filipinos and as  global citizens means that we have to choose the direction of establishing a reign of justice as opposed to the reign of greed and oppression brought about by the imperialist annexation and aggression. 

8. When we choose to live in covenant relationship, means we have to make our total resolve and commitment to evolve a society where justice, peace and love are lived. This also means do our share of responsibilities entailed to both individuals and to communities or organizations.

9. The situation of migrant workers in South Korea can be characterized as modern day slavery in the context of insatiable greed for super profits of companies especially by transnational corporations. 

10. By forging greater unity and alliance amongst organizations migrant workers can strengthen their resolve and commitment to free themselves from modern slavery in various forms.