Juneteenth

Then Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Matthew 18:21-35 

Juneteenth

Dear Lord of forgiveness and mercy
we find ourselves as guilty people
unwilling to know that freedom's cost
was born so long on the backs of slaves.

Even now Lord, the lashes and abuse
are heaped on the slaves' descendants
disrespect and suspicion are their lot
and we have not done anything to change it.

We as people of this land of democracy
have watched as good people are held down
until they can no longer breathe and die
until the world erupts in strife and pain.

Lord, we are convicted by our privileges
you told us to daily repent and forgive
yet we will not even look at our sin
we shall not be whole until we make it right.

Take us all to the streets of cruelty
and let us kneel with our brothers and sisters
let us repent for all we have done together
and make amends by making all equal and free. Amen