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Today's Lenten Devotion
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Who is Wise?
Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
-- Hosea 14:9
Having been raised in the small hamlet on the coast of Eastern Connecticut, I have personally been impacted by the serial murders that occurred there twenty years ago in the playground of my youth.
As a mother, the unimaginable suffering of the families of Michael Ross' victims is hard to fathom. I cannot imagine the heartache of Michael Ross' family. He, too, is someone's son. One can feel only the deepest sorrow for all who've been touched by this tragedy.
But Michael Ross serves to put a human face on an issue larger than his particular fate: the place of capital punishment in a civilized society. Is it sufficient to quote "an eye for an eye" and to be done with it and put it aside? Why is our understanding of punishment so primitive? It is also impractical. Studies have shown repeatedly that it neither saves money nor deters crime. Does his execution now scheduled for May 11 relieve us of our responsibilities in society? The distinction between good and evil does not run between one nation and another, or one person and another. We are all broken and in need of forgiveness.
Through Psalm 51 we confess that our sin is ever before us and we ask for God's mercy according to His steadfast love in forgiving us and to renew a right spirit within us. God asks us for a meaningful repentance of our sins and we ask Him to heal our spiritual brokenness and to have mercy on us. Without God's mercy neither victim nor sinner can hope to be forgiven for our transgressions.
In this season when the Christian world marks the resurrection of the one who calls us to love our enemies, can we not grow beyond our addiction to violence and vengeance? Revenge never brings peace to the human heart. Consider Paul's words, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written: "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Romans 12:19 (KJ21)
Dear Lord, we come to you in this time of upheaval and strife in the world. We ask your mercy and forgiveness for our sins and our iniquities. We ask you Lord to make us whole once again to serve you. Be with all those sad of heart and purpose. Let us walk in your light and in your way, that we may come to know your loving kindness and share in your kingdom. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Have mercy on us, O God, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, thy son, our Lord. Amen.
June Gregory
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