Fwd: Justice

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: César García <Kitchener@mwc-cmm.org>
Date: Sun, Sep 18, 2016 at 4:30 AM
Subject: Justice
To: Gehman Mennonite Church <info@gehmanmennonitechurch.org>

 

Dear Friends, For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! – Luke 15:24 (NRSV) How are we to respond to those who have hurt or wounded us? Some people demand justice and equate forgiveness with impunity. Those who have been victims reveal their deep resentment by way of this attitude. Others seek to escape reality by ignoring the past and making light of the wounding they have received. Jesus shows us a different path: His justice does not seek retribution or revenge, nor does it deny or ignore what has been done. Just as the parable of the prodigal son in the book of Luke reveals, the justice Jesus practices transforms the lives of the offenders. It is understandable that victims demand justice. Rembrandt masterfully depicts this in his painting The Return of the Prodigal Son by way of the attitude of the oldest son. Yet Jesus invites us to open ourselves to the possibility of reconciliation. For God, healing the wound is of greater concern than strict compliance with the law. This is how the prodigal son was able to find forgiveness and the possibility of a new beginning. When we draw near to God, we find life instead of death. In divine terms, justice is not about giving the offender what they deserve, but rather what they need: love, compassion and mercy. Today, while we celebrate Peace Sunday, we ask for God's presence and the power of the Holy Spirit in order to respond as God would to those who offend and wound us. Only this attitude can bring the peace that the world is desperately in need of. Shalom! (Peace!),                                                                         César García, MWC General Secretary P.S. Take a look at our Peace Sunday worship resources online at www.mwc-cmm.org/peacesunday. There are resources and ideas that can be used on any Sunday during the year. www.mwc-cmm.org       General Secretariat: Calle 28A No. 16-41 Piso 2 Bogotá, Colombia   Canadian Address: 50 Kent Avenue, Suite 206 Kitchener, ON N2G 3R1 T: (519) 571-0060 U.S. Address: PO Box 5364 Lancaster, PA 17606-5364     Click here to unsubscribe from this mailing list.