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Rev. Roger's Reflections February 28, 2008 |
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Sunday, 02 March 2008 |
John R. Skelley-Watts, Juror #103, you are hereby summoned to serve as a Petit Juror in the Court of Common Please of Erie County, for the term of service Petit Jurors-Judge Tone, 3/10/08-3/28/08 (Group DC).
(signed) Terry M. Lyons,
Sheriff of Erie County
That is what greeted me as I opened my mail in early February.
Not that I wanted to evade my civic responsibility, mind you. I was called up once before and was looking forward to it. But they kicked me out because of my profession.
However, this time the timing could not have been worse - the term straddled Holy Week and our two week planned vacation out of town. They excused me for Holy Week, and I'm still waiting to hear about vacation (my sister-in-law Carol's 60th birthday and the only time Joan and I could get away).
But still it was nothing like my draft notice for Viet Nam or an IRS audit.
Then I began to think about being a juror or a judge. I remember a judge friend of mine saying he enjoyed my visits because he could go weeks without anybody calling him by his first name. Respect for the office, not knowing him as a person.
What about this judging people idea, though? After all, I'm in the grace and mercy business - forgiveness is my game - Jesus is the name.
It reminded me of the dilemma faced by Caiaphas, the high priest, and the house of scribes and elders who had to judge Jesus.
Many false witnesses came forward until Jesus finally made a general statement about being the Messiah, the Son of God.
Then the high priest tore his clothes and condemned Jesus to death, passing the buck to Governor Pilate. In order to avoid a riot, the governor enforced the order, but was plagued by bad dreams and literally washed his hands of the whole thing. "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves," stated Pilate.
How do we feel about judging people, even in little ways? The way they act, how they dress, their families, place of origin, religion, homes, cars, professions, where they work or go to school? Their lifestyle, or even an illness they might have. How do we judge people we pass at the mall or see on TV? Don't we judge people all the time, in small or large ways, on purpose to impress our friends with jokes or unconsciously to ourselves?
Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection frees us from the need to judge others. "Judge not, lest ye also be judged," the scripture says (Matthew 7:1), so as we dish it out we shall also be put on trial.
Praise be to God that this Easter season we can celebrate that even while we plead guilty all during the Lenten season, all the way through Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday - on Easter morn Jesus drops the charges - and we're free! Amen.
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