Ordained a priest in 1833, St. Joseph Cafasso was known
as a social saint. Convinced that public
hangings were wrong, Cafasso ensured that more than 60 prisoners left his world
remembering that they had received a heavenly pardon and were loved by God.
Would you be able to assure those deemed fit to be
killed by a jury of their peers, that God loves and forgives them?
Cafasso was particularly interested in reminding
people that the grace of God was stronger than the angst and guilt that overwhelmed
them. And, despite all the death he witnessed,
Cafasso continued to preach love: “We are born to love, we live to love, and we
will die to love still more.”
How has love shaped your life?
Some people believe that people in prison can be
reformed if they have time to think about their mistakes and perhaps find something
to believe in or someone who believes in them.
Others think they are always going to be up to no good and are in prison to
be locked away from others they might potentially do harm to.
Do you think love is powerful enough to reform those
who have gone astray?
Unlike the worldly justice system, God never judges us
based on our worst moments. Unfairly, God
greets us with love and forgiveness.
It’s called grace, precisely because we don’t deserve - and never will.
In the real world, this kind of love and forgiveness
makes no sense. But still, those who go
to church try to live into this godly ideal of compassion and love and seek to
unlearn the cynicism of the world around us.
You don’t have to go to church to learn to love or to
receive forgiveness. The blessings of
God are true, even when there isn’t a pastor around to proclaim them. Lutherans believe that everyone is a pastor
in their own way. Today, take a moment
to share God’s love by forgiving someone who doesn’t deserve it and loving
someone beyond their expectations.
Prayer
of the Day: God of compassion, help us
learn to love and to be loved. Thank you
for forgiving our regrets, doubts and debts.
Bless those who are in prison and support the families and loved ones who
long for their return. Amen.
Biblical
Text of the Day: Luke 6:35-38
But love your
enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be
great, and you will be children of the Most High; for God is kind to the
ungrateful and the wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Parent is
merciful.
38“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not
condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38give,
and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together,
running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the
measure you get back.”
Director: Nastasia Simbirtsewa
