Advent
November 25, 2015
Scripture Reading: Psalm 25:1-10
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long. –Psalm 25:1-5
I have been following the trial of a police officer here in Oklahoma City in recent days accused of committing various sexual assaults, including rape, on 13 different women. All of the alleged victims have criminal records mostly prostitution and involvement with drugs. The allegations are that he not only sexually assaulted them but did so in exchange for not arresting them for real or fabricated crimes. Several of the victims never complained but came forward after one did. The primary reason for not coming forward was shame. Shame is defined as a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety in one’s own behavior or position or in the behavior or position of a closely associated person or group*. The defense in the case is highlighting the checkered past of each victim to question their veracity I suppose—more likely to taint the jury’s opinion of their worth.
I must tell you I have experience some shame as I followed this case. Why were there 13 women living in despair so vulnerable to the threats of the streets, in a city with about 600 Christian churches along with a sprinkling of mosques, Jewish congregations, and a variety of eastern religions? Are we perpetrators of their shame? Are we doing everything we can to assure that all in society have an equal chance to succeed?
Our responsibility as a society starts with at least the provision of adequate prenatal care; continues through quality health care and early childhood education, K through 12 educations, and job training; and living wages for all families so they can provide food, clothing, and shelter for themselves. We need to assure that every little girl, little boys too, can grow up to become healthy, whole adults with enough self-confidence and self-reliance to face their enemies and not be put to shame.
Prayer: Lord, guide us in shaping a society that provides the tools for all its people to become fully what You created them to be. Amen.
*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/Shame
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.