Luke 18:1-8 (NRSV)
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Chapter 18Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. Verse 2He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. Verse 3In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' Verse 4For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, Verse 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" Verse 6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. Verse 7And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? Verse 8I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Devotion
Immigration reform is a complex and touchy subject. Bring it up in almost any situation and people's opinions are likely to be diverse, divided, and often unbending. Yet at the heart of immigration issues is the question about what is just? What is just for those who desire a better life in America? What is just for citizens of the U.S. who are struggling to make ends meet? What are the just actions for us as followers of Jesus Christ to take? These are not easy questions, but neither are they to be ignored. Jesus demonstrated to us time and again that we are to do what we can to help the poor, the widow, the orphan and, yes, the stranger. Especially at those times when it seems like all our cries for justice are on our own behalf, perhaps we need to be reminded of what it means to have concerns for justice for those who cannot shout out for themselves? What is Jesus asking us to do for them? How might we like the woman in Jesus' parable be persistent in seeking justice for those who desperately need it?
Prayer
God of All, be with us as we discern how best to seek justice for the least among us. May immigration issues be resolved with the best interests for all involved. Amen.