TUESDAY, December 6

Psalm 28. Repay them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their actions. According to the work of their hands repay them, and give them their just deserts.

I happen to be reflecting on these words on a day when a notorious criminal has received his sentence, the maximum, 150 years in prison. Although his crime was nonviolent—a massive financial fraud—it harmed countless people in ways that will probably never be fully accounted for.

The news media reported that some of his victims cheered in the courtroom when the sentence was announced. It does appear to be “just deserts.” When this man stole billions of dollars, he also stole billions of hopes—hopes for a decent education, a comfort- able retirement, the success of nonprofit endeavors. Now his hopes have been taken from him in turn.

No one can live long enough to be released from 150 years in prison. It’s natural that we relish this man’s suffering, even if we are only indirectly affected by his crime. But there is one hope that cannot be taken from anyone, the hope of eternal joy in the love of Jesus Christ. I will offer a prayer, if a bit reluctantly, for this terrible man, while my prayers pour out for his victims as well. God, give the gift of hope to all.

PRAY for the Diocese of Western Massachusetts (Province I, USA)

Ps 26, 28 * 36, 39; Amos 7:10-17; Revelation 1:9-16; Matthew 22:34-46

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Crime Does Not pay

Dec 06, 2011 at 5:35 am

Written by emeline,

How sad to lose one's freedom just because of personal greed? If we put our prayer life in perspective whenever we engage in any activity, whether at work or play, we invite God's presence and intervention as we make decisions. It is unlikely that we would fall in the trap of defrauding people of their hard earned wealth, as illustrated by Today's Meditation Writer. Greed influences our decision to kill, steal and destroy. Many lives have been "lost" because someone decided to rob them of what they worked so hard for. Let us all live out the aged old adage: "A hard day's work for a hard day's pay."

Really?

Dec 06, 2011 at 7:04 am

Written by Bonnie,

Really? I agree this man was a thief and should be punished...but having hopes and dreams wrapped up in money? Really? Now this terrible man must suffer...

How about forgiveness? How about hope and trust in the One Provider of all good and perfect gifts...how about preparing a way for the Lord....

...

Dec 06, 2011 at 7:49 am

Written by vindication,

It is in the hands of God to judge. Jesus will be the final judge and the righteous will be vindicated. Our duty is to love the Lord our God first and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. God desires all to be with Him forever and He gives ample opportunity for this choice.

Judgement and Vengeance

Dec 06, 2011 at 9:00 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

As a Christian I'm caught in the dynamic tension between the Old Testament and the New Testament. This meditation highlights the dilemma. The prayer in the Psalm is to God. Judgement is God's. Yet yet I'm inclined to want to protect myself from dangerous people. I want to see justice now. This lies at the heart of the arguments for life imprisonment instead of capital punishment.

other readings

Dec 06, 2011 at 9:17 am

Written by Bonnie,

Ok. But there is so much more in the Scripture readings than this single verse. In this same Psalm: "Praise be to the Lord for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trust in him and I am helped..." And as vindication wrote, Love our God and love our neighbors. Why focus on the revenge part and not the rest, like trust and love and looking to God for our strength?

We are in the midst of a God with us season...a time when he came to show his unconditional love, his forgiveness, his sufficiency. When he came, lived, preached, taught; Jesus turned the world (and the scriptures) upside down.

Love without judgment

Dec 06, 2011 at 10:18 am

Written by Merry,

How we live our faith and act on our faith are more often than not at the heart of our daily meditations. I lift my prayers that we who work for justice refrain from judgment or any implications of revenge. I was deeply troubled by a bumper sticker I recently saw on an automobile that said “Kill the rich.” My distress was even greater because of another sticker that indicated the car belonged to a member of the clergy. We must be careful how we think and how we present our beliefs. The world is fragile. Our survival depends on turning away from revenge and loving one another without judgment. I believe that is what following Christ means.

God's Own

Dec 06, 2011 at 11:05 am

Written by Ron Spych,

God has laws. Men have made laws based on God's. People who break the law suffer consequences. Usually, lawbreakers lose their freedom. Sometimes, they lose their lives. When one is aware he has broken the law, God's or man's, and shows remorse and takes personal responsibility and suffers the consequences, then that person is on the road to redemption. An individual who has paid his debt to society is welcomed back, even if it is with a jauncied eye. Still, it (society) allows a second chance to an individual to reestablish a lawful place in it (society). In God's case, He had His son, Jesus Christ, pay our sin debt. All God asks in return is for us to accept his son as Lord and Savior, and all that implies, and He will bless us in our lives today, and share his love with us through eternity. But be advised, God will be the final judge (He knows our hearts) and He will decide if we are worthy to remain in his loving presence or be cast into the darkness.

Do unto others ...

Dec 06, 2011 at 11:11 am

Written by Angie Forde,

I make it a practice never to pray anything for others that I would not pray for myself. I could not endure praying those 2 verses for myself, so would not for anyone else. But, as has been pointed out, there's a great deal more in this psalm, My prayer for myself and for the man condemned to 150 years in prison (how does this benefit anyone?) and for those who condemned him and for those he is said to have cheated is found in verse 11: Save your people and bless your inheritance; shepherd them and carry them for ever.

Judge not...

Dec 06, 2011 at 12:18 pm

Written by Pete Hoffman,

This meditation points out the dilemma we all face on a daily basis. We are called to (1) Love God and (2) Love our Neighbor -- the two great commandments. The loving God isn't too hard, but the loving of our neighbor when that neighbor is anything but worthy is a whole other matter. I struggle daily with my natural tendency to judge and belittle those who don't live as I believe they should. My only recourse is prayer, constant prayer that God will restore them to health with His constant and unquestioning love. So also do I pray for those who have been hurt by their less-than-loving actions. It's the only thing I can do. Even Jesus said "Father, forgive them..."

...

Dec 06, 2011 at 3:12 pm

Written by Elizabeth Larson,

Sometimes, prison can afford a time of reflection for the incarcerated. I say this after 15 years volunteering as a chaplain in prison and county jails. Some people have no feeling beyond their own immediate self-centered ones and can't identify with their victums. Prison may afford a time to learn or it may not. We will be judged by a wise and impartial judge. In order to repent, one must believe they have done something wrong. Look through the advent readings, they are about haveing the correct wedding garment to be accepted at the banquet for Christ and his bride, the church. But if I can't admit I've erred, I won't repent and I will be left out in the cold and not admitted to the feast. There are some really warm fuzzy parts about God's love for his creation, but there is also a very serious call to loving behavior and consideration for others.

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