‘As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, O God’. (Psalm 42:1)Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ (Luke 23:34 (NIVUK)
Jesus…said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ (John8:12 NIVUK)
‘I can’t breathe’
was not said by a Covid-19 patient urgently needing a ventilator but were the final words of George Floyd, a black man who died last week at the hands of a white policeman, sparking violent protests in the USA and demonstrations in the UK. There is no place for racism and the injustice it brings in its wake within our society.
Christian minister and civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King once said, ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.’
It’s a statement that reminded me of Christianity’s founder Jesus Christ who suffered excruciating pain and injustice when he was crucified on a Roman cross. The mechanism of death in crucifixion is asphyxiation, and as Jesus hung there struggling for breath, he uttered words of forgiveness for the humanity who was killing him. The ‘Light of the World’
was driving out darkness, love was driving out hate. He included all human beings in that forgiveness because all lives matter to him.
If you have suffered the injustice of racism (or any other ism) why not check out the love, light, and inclusion Jesus Christ brings, and see just how much you matter to him.
Have a good week knowing that you matter.
Pastor Barry
