WORD: “He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory!” (Matthew 12:19-20) THOUGHT: Justice Jesus-style is not about demanding my rights, but about advocating and [...]
We have a responsibility and opportunity to ‘speak up’ for those whose voices are not heard. We must ensure that we are listening, and lending our voice on behalf of those who need justice. In this we are not replacing others, but in getting to know those who are not heard they are able to speak with and through us.
Does your church work to show your community that people with disabilities are truly welcomed and embraced? If not, what good is your faith? Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead, but faith that is accompanied by action is a beautiful offering of love toward God and other people."
Wallin offers biblical encouragement to parents and caregivers in similar positions by sharing wisdom and insights found on her own journey toward forgiveness and healing.
At face value, Jesus was engaged in the supernatural and people were being healed. Having worked with people with disabilities for two decades and now working with people in extreme poverty in under-resourced countries, I have been blessed to have a new lens through which to see this story. These people healed by Jesus had no hope. Their poverty and disability, in his day, relegated them to begging outside the city. Being healed enabled them to be known again in the general population. Healing brought them back to community.
