Reflections for All Saints Day at the beginning of Living Wage week

Revelation 21:1–6a

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals.  He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away,’ And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ The he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end.’

If there is to be a ‘new heaven and a new earth’ why worry about a living wage?

Why worry that people don’t really have enough to live on?

Isn’t the government sorting this out anyway?

The Vital Signs update, produced by the MK Community Foundation is the result of research into how things really are for people in Milton Keynes.  Yes our economy is growing, yes there are more new businesses and start ups in Mk than the national average, yes Mk is faster at creating new jobs than the national average.

BUT

13% of MK citizens are living in some of the most deprived areas on England

1,250 people were recorded as homeless in MK in 2014 compared to 350 in 2013

19% of children under 16 in MK still live below the poverty line

Only 25% of MK students who qualify for free school meals achieved 5 or more A*-C grades in their GCSEs compared with 61% overall ( National average 63%)

So does it matter?

These words from the book of Revelation demonstrate a sure hope and belief in a God and can and will make all things new.  They were written in times of persecution and oppression.  They could be seen ( and have been by some churches) as saying that we don’t need to worry about things now because everything will be all right in the end.  But that would be to deny the witness of scripture, the prophets and the life and work of Jesus as well as the best moments of the New Testament churches. The prophets speak of a time when justice will be seen on earth and call us to live justly, and that relates to our economic dealings almost more than anything else. Revelation gives us a vision to inspire and encourage.

So why a Living wage?  It’s a wage that has been calculated to be enough to live on- just!

The government’s proposals do not match this.  They effectively provide an increased minimum wage for over 25s.

So where is justice?  Evidence from companies who have introduced the Living Wage suggests that it works.  It can be afforded.  It has to be.

A new heaven and a new earth?  On this All Saints Day, let’s make it real.

LIVING WAGE PRAYER

God of justice and friend of the poor,
we pray for all in our communities
who work for a wage that fails to provide sufficiently
for their welfare and their dependents.

In this Living Wage Week bless the work of Living Wage Campaigns
in challenging employers to pay their staff a living wage
so that work may be properly rewarded and poverty overcome.

May the case be heard that flourishing business,
a productive workforce and the good society
are founded upon justice in the workplace.
Strengthen the example of Living Wage employers
that they may be a beacon
that will lead others to that goal
where the fruits of labour may be justly shared.
Amen.

This Prayer was penned by Canon Peter Howard of St Francis Church in Norwich (October 2014).