4 Easter, Year One
[Go to Mission St Clare for an online version of the Daily Office including today’s scripture readings.]
Today’s Readings for the Daily Office:
Psalms 119:49-72 (morning) // 49, [53] (evening)
Wisdom 4:16-5:8
Colossians 1:24-2:7
Luke 6:27-38
One of the biggest factors entrenching racism in the United States has been the refusal to lend money at reasonable terms (or at all) to minority would-be homeowners and business owners. Whether as a result of formal bank policies, or of less formal prejudices, this lack of access to credit has shut many people out of the most common routes to security and prosperity.
Modern economies have evolved quite a bit since Jesus’s day, but today’s gospel speaks directly to lending practices. Jesus asks wryly, “If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you?” In other words, if we don’t extend credit to others, why do we think we’ll get any credit ourselves?
As Jesus says, “Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.”
Many of our national sins are rooted in this failure to invest in one another. We don’t invest equally in the health, education, and creativity of children of all races. We haven’t invested in the dreams, families, and ambitions of all people.
To no one’s credit. To everyone’s cost.
Lora Walsh blogs about taking risks and seeking grace at A Daily Scandal. She serves as curate of Grace Episcopal Church in Siloam Springs and as director of the Ark Fellows, an Episcopal Service Corps program sponsored by St. Paul’s in Fayetteville, Arkansas.