Lent
February 27, 2016
Scripture Reading: Luke 13:1-9
At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’ –Luke 13-5
Funny how we humans relate to the woes of others. The evening news is a mirror image of our societies quest to judge. We are told truly sad story of a “proper” family including a request for help, and people usually respond with great compassion, and that is good. Yet when told of a family member, of whom we all are, who has done some horrible crime, or not so horrible crime, we are quick to wish that person the worse possible outcome even though he or she is no less a child of God and may actually be in more need of our compassion than most.
Bad things do happen to good people and love can heal the most hardened criminal. Prisons have started programs where persons, with life without parole sentences, have been taught to train service dogs. The combination of the unconditional love of the dogs with which they work and the knowledge that once the dog leaves their training it will help someone in great need has an amazingly restorative impact on the prisoners involved. I wonder what impact the unconditional love of another human would have?
Prayer: Lord, you commanded us to visit the prisoner show us the way to bring restorative justice to every court room, jail, and prison in our land. Make us conduits of your love and justice to those caught up in the criminal system and make us strong advocates for those whom the justice system has failed. Amen.
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.