03 | Table of Justice
Challenging systems that exploit the vulnerableLent 2026
Contributors
Luya is a Principal of a partner seminary in Mongolia
Image: Provided by Luya, celebrating Tsagaan Sar
In Mongolia, conversations about justice are rarely abstact. Many families carry quiet pressure: wages that do not stretch far enough, rising costs, and the feeling that rules are not the same for everyone. While international measures like the Corruption Perception Index helps us name what people already sense, numbers cannot tell every story. However, they do remind us of something practical: when trust erodes, the vulnerable often pay first.
Jesus and the Economics of Zacchaeus
Into this kind of world, Luke 19:1-10 gives us hope. Jesus chooses to stay with Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector who represents an economy that enriches a few by taking from many. Yet, Jesus does not begin with a strong accusation.Instead, he begins with presence : ” Today, I must stay at your house.”
At the table, grace does not excuse wrongdoing; it brings it into the light. Consequently, Zacchaeus responds with repentence that becomes repair. He releases money, harm is repaired, and dignitiy is restored. In this context, the Table of Justice is not just a slogan. It is concrete change.
Tsagaan Sar: A Table of Stress or Joy?
This story speaks into one of the most tender places in Mongolian life: Tsagaan Sar, the Mongolian Lunar New Year. For three days,families travel to visit elders and share generous hospitality. A well-set table communicates honour through milk tea, dumplings, and pastries.
For many retirees, this beautiful tradition also carries a heavy weight. Some borrow against future pension payemnts so that can “welcome well”. Afterwards, they face long season of debt and anxiety. In a quiet way,a joyful table can become a table of stress.
The Promise of a True Fast
Lent invites us to ask: what does Jesus do when he comes to such a table? He welcomes- and he challenges. He does not turn away from Zacchaeus, but neither does he leave him unchanged. Therefore, we pray for “Zacchaeus moments” for leaders, not image management, but honest repentence and real repair.
Isaiah 58:6-10 brings Lent and justice together. God calls his people to a “ture fast”: loosening the bonds of injustice and refusing to hide from our neightbours need. Then comes the promise: “Your light will break forth like the dawn.” When God’s people practice justice, light becomes visible.
Seeing it in Scripture
Read Luke 19:1–10
Why do you think Jesus chooses Zacchaeus’s table as the place where “salvation” is announced?
Zacchaeus repents in a way that includes restitution. What might “repair” look like when harm is done through systems, not only individuals.
Relating it to your community
Read Isaiah 58:6–10
This passage connects spiritual practice with justice. What could be a “true fast” in your community that helps light rise in the darkness?
Lord Jesus, come to our tables. Expose what is unjust, soften what is hard, and give us courage to repent and wisdom to repair. Let your light rise in the darkness through your people. Amen.
Letting it challenge our discipleship
Host a justice-shaped table: Share a meal with someone under financial pressure or an older neighbour. Listen well and ask what kind of support would restore dignity.
Practice a true fast: Reduce one discretionary expense this week and redirect it towards an action that strengthens the vulnerable. This could be a bill paid, groceries delivered, or a trusted local initiative.
