Previous Post – Bless Are Those Who Mourn
One morning, Jesus came down into the city where the people began to gather around Him, so He sat down to teach them. A group of Christian leaders approached Jesus, bringing with them a young man who was caught being a colonialist. Knowing Jesus as a teacher who stood for justice, they brought the man before Jesus.
Seeing the young man and hearing the accusations against him, Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When He did not respond, they questioned him again. Slowly, Jesus stood up and looked each person in the eyes and said:
“Which of you have never been guilty of colonialist impulses?”
“Who among you have never allowed your passion for justice to run ahead of your commitment to peace?”
“Which of you has not unintentionally silenced the voice of the oppressed in your passion to stop the oppressor?”
“Let any of you who are without failing cast the first stone.”
Again Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dirt. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, first the older, seasoned activists and last, the fiery young bloggers. Soon, only Jesus remained with the young man, who still stood with his hung in shame and exhaustion.
“Young man, where are your accusers? Has no one remained to judge you?”
“They’re all gone,” the young man replied timidly.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. As the young man began to walk away in gratitude, Jesus put his hands on his shoulders, looked him in the eye and said:
“Next time, do better.”
