Rev. Devon Thomas: Love is the seed of justice

This commentary was written by Rev. Devon Thomas, pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in South Burlington.

First, I must urge everyone to accept the results of the 2024 election. The people have spoken, and while many in Vermont may have difficulty making these choices, we as citizens of this country still have a responsibility to respect the integrity of our elections. This doesn’t change the fact that I have a lot of anxiety about the election.

Reverend Dr. King famously said that the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice. I find it hard to believe today. And yet I must try to believe.

For the first time in American history, the people of our country elected a man convicted of 34 felonies and attempting to overturn a legitimate election. Donald Trump will become the 47th President of the United States. No matter how much I disagree with his beliefs and positions, I must accept the voice of the American people and look to future discussions within the laws of our country if I want to see change.

This election showed me, as a pastor of a Vermont church, that my values ​​of love are not shared by the majority of Americans. We have deep differences in our understanding of human rights, civil liberty, common decency and religious truth.

As a Christian, when I say that God gave us a savior, I mean a man who preached that we should feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick; he teaches that when we lift up the poor and oppressed, we honor Him (Matthew 36:46). Now I must admit that my understanding of the Savior is very different from that of many Christians today because they have just elected their Savior to office on a platform that casts out the oppressed and turns a blind eye to their suffering.

I take comfort in knowing that I am not the only one who experiences such extreme anxiety. Seeing the state election results makes me deeply proud of Vermonters because while we may disagree on policy, our vote in my town of Georgia for the U.S. Senate demonstrates that we share similar ethical and moral values ​​of love. Vermont is still a community that believes neighbors should love their neighbors, and to my concern, that means everyone knows my neighbor loves me. In this place of love in the universe, justice is reborn.

I ask everyone who shares my concern to channel that frustration into loving action. Unfortunately, I fear that we will see a lot of injustice in the future. The incoming administration has promised mass deportations and military action against American citizens. I hope it was just political rhetoric. The American people have determined the path of our nation, and Vermonters will decide the path of our state within the nation.

Please help our state become a moral example for America in the times to come. Take your worries and fears and turn them into loving actions. Lift up the poor, the sick, the hungry and the oppressed where we have the strength.

There is a lot of good work to be done here in Vermont. We are fighting the housing and homelessness crisis, and you can give whatever you can to housing trusts and organizations like CVOEO, United Way, JUMP, and COTS that serve poor and homeless people. As we fight social justice, consider helping groups like the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and the Pride Center who work to promote inclusivity and equality for all Vermonters.

Please help keep the light of neighborly love alive and strong in Vermont. Love is the defining fabric of our community in Vermont, and I predict that our love will become an example for the rest of the world.