Unfixable

Is there anything so broken that it is unfixable?

Some might say our legislature is broken beyond repair.  Others might say it is our legal system.

Throughout the country, people are out protesting a Grand Jury decision that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute a man for murder.

It happens all the time, but in this case, too much is at stake to let the decision stand.  The case has been elevated in importance by people who have an agenda.  They want to use it to force change, to fix something that is broken.

What broken thing needs to be fixed first?

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free.  He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David.  Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. - Luke 1:68-71

I chose to focus this morning on The Song of Zechariah from Luke.  It is a song of hope, a song of a father who has been renewed, his ability to speak restored.  He accepts a sign from God that his son will be an agent of change in the world, and that child will be called John.

John will be born into an unfixable world, one filled with hatred and selfishness, brutality and submission, slavery and abuse.  And he will rally the people to come to the water and be refreshed, renewed, prepared for life anew.

We look at the protests, both peaceful and violent, and what do we see?  Do we see hope?

In the weeks and months leading up to the decision, the trial and conviction of the police officer had already taken place in the minds of the people.  Crucify him, they cried, convinced that he was guilty of murder of an innocent, unarmed boy (as the press points out) and that anyone saying otherwise is a racist.

It may be hard for victims of racism to believe how hurtful it is to be called a racist.  In fact that label is so stigmatic, fear of it colors our language, our interactions and our thoughts.

There is no way, now that the people have judged and convicted, that justice can truly be served.  It's ironic, isn't it, that the very freedom we have to speak out against or in favor of an issue traps us into silence, keeping the voices that have doubts and concerns from speaking up.  Once we are labeled, we are dead.

One of the key things we learn in our Education for Ministry program is that we need to and we must bring our controversial issues to the discussion, and we must do that with mutual respect.

For that reason, it pains me to see ministers flaming the fires of hatred with their accusations and agendas.  That only sets the stage for violence, as we have seen this past week.

Zechariah found himself silenced by God, humbled into introspection, and that prepared him to see the truth that he couldn't see before.

We need to be more like Zechariah.  Not that we should keep silent when we believe there is injustice, but to be introspective first, before speaking.  Our words can hurt.  And they can keep us from the truth.

I am afraid the situation we have created is now truly unfixable.

I pray I am wrong.

More to come...