Advent
December 10, 2021
Scripture Reading:
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
As I write, the second man in an Oklahoma prison to be executed in the last month is being fastened onto a gurney with legs bound and arms outstretched in a cross-like manner. Oklahoma stopped executions in 2015 because the drugs being used were deemed to cause unnecessary suffering. Our current Governor and Attorney General disagreed with that decision and reinstated executions using the same drugs. The first man executed experienced over two dozen convulsions and vomited twice before dying. The second man scheduled for execution had his sentence changed to life in prison without parole because there are serious questions regarding whether he committed the crime for which he was found guilty. The third man on the list is being killed today. There are 30 more people on death row, but a hearing has been set in February in federal court to determine whether the drugs being used cause unnecessary suffering. I do not believe that the death penalty is ever appropriate. The hearing in February will not end the death penalty; it will only change the method used to kill the people.
The Scripture quoted above is one of my favorites, and in theory, I attest to its validity, but today in real life, where the death penalty is real, I am finding it hard to rejoice in the Lord always. I then remember that much of Philippians was written by Paul while he was in prison when he, too, could have been executed. Later, he probably was beheaded for spreading the love of Jesus Christ. The man being executed today said he was at peace and will be the first person executed in Oklahoma to have his spiritual advisor in the room with him, praying for him while touching him in the process. He indeed has chosen to rejoice in the Lord always. So, I rejoice with his ability to rejoice while I pledge even more to advocate for the end of the death penalty and remember the words of Jesus from the cross, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do, Luke 23:34.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us for our failure to love all your children. Guide us to restore the wholeness of all who have committed crimes. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.