Date: Saturday, April 4th 
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”
By Rev. Carla S. Christopher Wilson, Associate Pastor of Faith Formation and Outreach at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Lancaster, PA
Paul wrote these words from the same place the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote some of his most powerful words of action, empowerment, and motivation – a jail cell. Like Dr. King, Paul calls his friends and fellow community organizers to make “every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace”. Paul speaks about a unity that celebrates diversity. Some are called to be teachers, some pastors, some caretakers, and some prophetic truth-tellers. Our unity comes from the love we are called to show each other and our neighbors. In that unity of cooperation, with each different part working properly, the whole body is built up. In justice work we are also called to create space for diverse talents; to remove barriers from participation and to ensure places at the table for all our differently-abled, multi-cultural siblings of all ages, genders, and orientations. Can most of us even imagine though, the courage and faith necessary to see and experience God’s love so clearly in a place of direct oppression and physical danger? How can we go outside our comfort zone to stand with people who may be so different than we are at a time when we feel most
vulnerable and afraid, times we are most tempted to pull inward or react defensively?
Both Paul and Dr. King knew those were, these are, the times when we need each other most. The movement song of Dr. King’s marching days says, “Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.”In the quiet of our prison cells, the world and the status symbols of our daily lives stripped away, we can see with clarity how much we need each other, our movement partners. Who are we called to welcome to the table, to build with, to open ourselves and listen to this Lenten season?
Prayer: God help us each to discern what role you may have us play as we work towards justice. Help us to lift each other up along the way and open our eyes to who we can invite to the table. Amen.
Criminal Justice Fact: As of 2018 98,000 of PA’s residents were incarcerated in prisons, jails, and other detention centers.
Action: Read this article about re-entrant Brandon Flood, who currently serves on the PA board of pardons.
https://www.inquirer.com/columnists/attytood/brandon-flood-former-inmate-pennsylvania-new-pardons-secretary-john-fetterman-20190407.html
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