And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.    (Deuteronomy 1:16-17, KJV)

In a democracy, we find it relatively easy, at least intellectually, to acknowledge the equality of all people and to reject discrimination based on age, sex, level of education, social class, religion, race, or national origin. As Christians, we are firmly committed to justice and peace. Yet we may still inwardly harbor anger, bitterness, and even revulsion toward certain individuals or groups who do not act in ways that suit us, and may consider ourselves quite justified in our denunciation of them when their behavior appears extreme or breaks long-established social norms, especially those we hold most dear.

This is an untenable position in light of our faith. If all people are created in the image of God, then all human life is fundamentally holy and there can be no distinctions with regard to the intrinsic value of each human being. The murderer and the victim, the back-street abortionist and the unborn baby, the terrorist and the innocent bystander, the rapist and the abused child, the warmonger and the peacemaker: all are treasured offspring of the Most High. Regardless of how contemptible their behavior may seem, the significance and sanctity of their lives cannot be questioned. We cannot afford the luxury of judging some people as less beloved of our Lord, or, as a corollary, less worthy of our concern, our understanding, and our prayers than others. We create such dichotomies to perpetrate the myth of separation: that we are by nature essentially different from the people we reject. Such a belief affords us some comfort, contributes to a sense of superiority, and allows us to more easily rationalize our rejection of them. But in fact, we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord, all one family, all born of the same Spirit. We may not choose them, but God chose us all.

To be true to our spiritual beliefs and values means to apply them consistently in all circumstances, in all relationships, at all times, in all places. But how shall we accomplish such a high goal when unspeakable evil sometimes seems to overwhelm what is good? When weeds of selfishness, cruelty, and prejudice run rampant, strangling what is nourishing? Or when understandable fear and loathing choke the very breath out of all compassion? Not by denying either the reality of the situation or of our own reactions, nor glossing over them with facile words that float along the surface of the issues, but by actively working to correct the conditions that bred the violence, ignorance, and injustice in the first place; and by consciously and continually opening our thoughts and feelings to the transforming fire and penetrating light of the Spirit. Such practices over time will alter hearts and minds at their core, ours no less than theirs, for we are all in need of divine wisdom, courage, strength, and healing - with no exceptions.

O Thou all-inclusive, benevolent God, help us to recognize that the more "evil" people appear to us, the deeper is our responsibility to understand them, the greater their need for love, and the more sacrifice of personal interests that are required to help them. May your love dwell more richly in us, day by day, illuminating our lives, that we may have the strength and courage to choose right action, and to do so over and over again, no matter how great the challenge. Amen

Contributed by Diane S.
Sunday November 12, 2006
Liturgical Year B Week 51