Recently, I have been rewatching the AMC drama Breaking Bad. This is a show that I would encourage most, if not everyone, to watch, because it accurately portrays human nature in a way few other shows do. When I came across this particular scene, in which Walter White argues with a state patrolman over the perceived injustice of a citation, it drew my thoughts back to the lectionary readings for this past week.
This particular scene focuses on the way in which human nature often deals with justice. More often than not it is fairly easy, as in Walt’s case, to see the injustices and wrongs of others. On the other hand, when it comes to our own sins, we often find ways to justify our actions. This brings me to what is going on in our nation and in the world. The past few months have shown the world the capability of human nature to bring about death, destruction, and turmoil. It saddens me to hear of the death of unarmed teens, Christians being crucified, and the ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine.
These circumstances often cause a sense of justice to well within us and force us to cry out for something to be done. Wrongs need to be made right! But this is where, as Christians and conservatives, we must be careful. Should injustices go overlooked, swept to the side, and ignored? Of course not, but we must ask ourselves what our response should be during these times.
There are two passages that the lectionary dealt appropriately with last week regarding this matter. Approaching the end of the book of Genesis, we see the story of Joseph’s brothers coming to Egypt and eventually realizing the identity of their brother. At this point in the story, Joseph has risen to second in command over Egypt and has within his power to crush his brothers for selling him into slavery. But what does Joseph do? He shows immense mercy and forgiveness. Later, we find in the Gospels, Jesus is approached by a Canaanite woman, who begs for Jesus to heal her child. The fact that she is a Canaanite grants Christ every right to ignore her pleas for help, but his reaction is one of mercy.
When dealing with injustices or wrongs done to us in our personal lives or observing the wrongs and godlessness occurring in the world, we must begin by understanding our own fallen nature and depravity. When the military or police force has to be used either abroad or domestically, we shouldn’t celebrate at the deaths of ISIS, or cheer for the National Guard responding to protest. Instead, we should pray for God’s mercy for them, as well as for ourselves. Let us be agents of mercy and slow to be the ones to administer justice.
“We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy” Book of Common Prayer 1928, Prayer of Humble Access
