WWJ drive is appropriate Advent question

To the editor:

For Christians who observe the church calendar of seasons and readings, this is Advent, four weeks of deep reflection and repentance that proceed Christmas. "What would Jesus drive?" is a good question for Advent reflection.

Could our reliance on oil and our preoccupation with status vehicles be signs of our captivity to what St. Paul called the "powers and principalities" of this world?

Could a kind of idolatry be involved in the obsession that U.S. citizens have with cars?

A frequent Biblical theme is that there is no right worship if our relationships are not marked by justice and compassion.

Perhaps, if we examine our lives to see if our purchasing habits contribute to injustice and the suffering of our neighbors, we might discover, in the words of the old spiritual, "It's me, it's me, oh Lord, standin' in the need of prayer."

JEANETTE MOTT OXFORD

St. Louis