Monday, April 23
Speaking Out for Injustice
Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.
Ok, Paul is kind of a badass. Just sayin'. He's been beaten, humiliated, and imprisoned. You'd think he's ready to bust on out of that prison and flee. But when the magistrates attempted to release them quietly so that no one would know, Paul wasn't having it. He told the police to tell the magistrates that they weren't going to slink away with their tails between their legs. They had been wronged, and they demanded justice and restitution. Surprisingly, they got their apology and were released.
It's got me to thinking about a story that came out last week about Meek Mill, an up and coming rapper who has been sentenced to roughly four years in prison for a parole violation. In short, he's going away for poppin' a wheely -- ten years after his arrest as a troubled teen (which he served his time for, by the way). His story is getting the attention of many in Hollywood, network media, and professional sports. People are saying his imprisonment is unjust -- excessive punishment for the crime because he is black. As a white person, it would be easy to turn a blind eye -- it's not my problem. But it is. My problem. Any time anyone is suffering injustice, it is absolutely my concern. Maybe there are more details I don't know, but on the surface, this seems like a pretty clear case of misuse of power and mistreating of black men. (I'm also intrigued by this because the sentencing judge is a black woman. Don't know what to think about that.) If it is as unjust as it seems, then I'm proud of Mill and the other voices speaking out for him. Maybe if they are as badass as Paul, something might just finally change in this country. #freemeekmill
Narrative Lectionary Text: Acts 16:35-40
When morning came, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, “The magistrates sent word to let you go; therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul replied, “They have beaten us in public, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they going to discharge us in secret? Certainly not! Let them come and take us out themselves.” The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens; so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. After leaving the prison they went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed.