Embracing Justice: The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2022

by Isabelle Hamley

‘In a world where justice is too often about power, Isabelle Hamley shows that God’s justice brings transformation, healing and hope for all.’ JUSTIN WELBY

What is justice? It’s a question we encounter everywhere in life and that over the last years has increasingly demanded an answer.

In Embracing Justice, Isabelle Hamley invites us on an exhilarating journey through Scripture to discover how we, as churches, communities and individual Christians, can seek and practice justice even when enmeshed in such a fractured world.

Full of practical encouragement, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book for 2022 brilliantly weaves together biblical texts, diverse voices, contemporary stories, and personal and group meditations to reveal liberating and imaginative ways in which me may grow in discipleship – and more fully reflect the justice, mercy and compassion of Christ in our lives.

With six chapters to take you from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, this Lent devotional for 2022 is essential reading for anyone interested in the issues of justice – from climate and economic justice to gender and racial equality – that are increasingly at the forefront of global consciousness, and the role that Christians and the Church must play in them.

Suitable for use both as a single study for individuals and for small groups to prepare for Easter, Embracing Justice will encourage, inform and motivate anyone looking for Christian books about justice. It will help you understand justice from a biblical perspective, and inspire you to seek it in every aspect of your life.

Although the world is broken, unequal and violent, the call to reflect God’s own justice and mercy continues to sound like a steady drumbeat, impossible to ignore. Company with Isabelle Hamley this Lent, and discover that we can all join God’s mission of transformation and embrace his justice.

Genres: Christianity, Theology

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 16, 2021

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel before I could truly write a review that I need to re-read this again and much more slowly. There is so much to consider, to be challenged and transformed by when it comes to our lives and truly embracing justice.

[Gael Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big ideas and ponderings here. Too much for one sitting! And yes, I’ve finished this well past Lent!! My husband and I were reading it together in our evenings, slotting it into life.

Digesting it slowly, it’s a wonderful book. The way it dissects justice and looks at it in tension with mercy is spot on. I’ll definitely reach for this in future if I need to think more on the subject. I particularly like the way Isabelle takes us into various perspectives and contexts, and wrestles with the truth that justice is often hard.

My only issue (and it’s a small, picky one) is that Isabelle often writes in very, VERY long sentences. The complexity of what she’s writing about mixed with the complexity of her sentences and grammar make for a slightly exhausting read sometimes, with a lot of having to go back and re-read to make sense of stuff. But the quality of the content is still great!

[Emma Jade Larsson-Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

For many years now, my faith has been increasingly shaped and become rooted in the pairing of biblical justice with the love that sits at the core of Christian belief. In other words, the older I get the more I realise I cannot do love without justice, I cannot do justice without love, and justice is central to God’s love for me.

Isabelle Hamley puts these sentiments into writing so eloquently and beautifully in this book, unpacking things I could never put to words before, and enlightening me further into just how deeply the roots of justice run in God’s love.

Although I’m reading this three Lents later than when it was released as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book, this book is just as relevant now as it was three years ago (in fact more so) and I’m sure will continue to become more relevant as time passes. It was exciting and joyful to read this book and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to understand just how central justice is to the Christian faith!

[Estelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I’ve finished my Lent book early. It was brilliant and so useful and inspiring. I love this final paragraph. It sums up a lot of my personal thoughts.

“ The fight for justice is not an open
contest between cosmic powers of equal might. It is a fight God has
already won, and is inviting us to join, on his terms: by letting our-
selves be embraced by his love, and choosing, in turn, to love our
neighbour and embrace them, with justice and mercy, with truth
and gentleness, with firmness and humility, for, in the embrace, we
discover that we are not so different after all. We are all made in the
image of God, and called to live in ways that allow this image to
shine and transform the world around.
Then, truly, we may say
'let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream' Amos 5:24 “

Isabelle Hamley “Embracing Justice” page 200

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although only 200 pages, Embracing Justice feels much more substantial. I will need to read it again to fully absorb all that is presented here. It is a timely book, looking at justice through Creation, Exodus, Law, Incarnation, Jesus and Eucharist.

Isabelle Hamley writes with great passion but is never preachy or patronising. My only reservation (hence 4 stars, not 5) is that it feels a little too wordy and dense for many, which is a shame given that its message is so powerful.

However I'm looking forward for using the Living Lent booklets that accompany the book throughout Lent this year in our church, whilst recommending the book to those who are up for a more challenging read. Thank you Isabelle.

[Neil Saltmarsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I particularly thought the first 3 chapters added dimensions to the Torah that I haven't considered before. I would love to do something with justice but I don't know what, how to start and although it gave me a framework I didn't get answers to these aspects that perhaps I was looking for. Maybe unfairly. This book has particularly focused me upon justice during the Lent season of 2022. Sometimes a little too wordy, but if you re-read parts a few times you can understand the richness of what is presented in this book.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A challenging book from beginning to end. If you're not familiar with the old testament she takes you through some parts that are challenging and not often explored. At the same time she constantly challenges and presents you with justice in ways you may not have seen before. Presenting justice as a communal responsibility forces you to re-examine your own ideas. But it contains more than her voice. She draws from several others who challenge and teach. A book that needs reading more than once as it's packed.

[Tim Newell · Rating 2 out of 5]

A general look at many issues where justice could be considered. Wide interpretation of the concept so helpful but as I was looking for a consideration of criminal justice I was disappointed. Maybe a future book that considers why we are so punitive as a species rather than reflecting that God is love.

[Mike Duncombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's more challenging at the beginning than towards the end. It's probably a bit hard for a general-purpose Lent Book, but I found it well worth the effort. The writing is dense, with lots of meaning packed into every sentence and plenty of content to feed your thinking gear. Isabelle offers significant insights into Christian and worldly thinking about Justice.

[Mrs C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated the theological reflection interwoven with story, scripture and sharing of insight. A timely and contextually relevant guide to justice from a biblical perspective translated to 2022.

[Andrew Laudel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of my church's Saturday morning discussion group, and it was enlightening! In it, English theologian Hamley offers a vision of justice informed by a sensitive reading of scripture as well as the testimony of those pursuing justice in the world.

[Christopher Trend · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and thorough exploration of justice in the Bible and for today with a good link to Holy Communion.
There is a lot in this book; much more than our study group could cover.
A book that needs to read again.

[Julie Birkett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought provoking and challenging

[Susan Butts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tedious; and only works if you are solid in a particular set of beliefs. If you question anything about that set of beliefs, I suggest you might find this book irritating and complacent

[Katie Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this really thought provoking and a great book to read during Lent, especially with the accompanying online materials.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Archbishop's Lent Book since Abiding in 2013. Timely, well-written and very interesting.

[Michael Hillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good Biblical reflection and some case studies, but not an easy read.

[Daniel Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good Bible study group guide or good for Lent. The focus on justice looks at different injustices in society such as racism, legal justice among other things.

[Bethlehem · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as interesting as folks make out