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In the First Reading this past week (Genesis 18:20-32), we hear the story of Abraham pleading with God for the innocent lives in the city of Sodom. Previous times when reading this story, I thought that this was a lesson for us to always go to God, to always ask God for mercy and forgiveness. But this time, I saw it from a different angle. I saw that God is showing us (or at least me) how we should view and treat others. I think it would be very challenging to go even a day without seeing or hearing how we negatively perceive others.
For example, when we learn about a new terrorist attack made by ISIS, what’s one of the first thoughts in our neighbor-loving Christian minds? Muslims are evil and Islam is a horrible religion. When we find out that there are some illegal immigrants who are trying to seriously take advantage of the system, our first thoughts are that they all are doing that and we need to kick them all out. When we learn that a black man was shot and killed by a police officer, we think that all cops are racists. Hopefully, those aren’t your thoughts, and if they are…well, I’m not judging you, but cut it out. But maybe, in this reading, God’s calling us to do more than not having those thoughts. Maybe God’s asking us to plead with our brothers and sisters around the world (Christians and non-Christians alike) for the lives of the innocent. That when someone — a friend, relative, politician, coworker, etc. — talks about doing something drastic with a group of people, that we plead with them to reconsider. That if we can find 50 good ones, that they should reconsider stereotyping. That if we can find 45 good ones, that they shouldn’t all be treated the same way. Well, maybe 40 good ones. Maybe 30. Or 20. 10. 1?
There’s one “grouping” that does not stereotype, but only makes a generalized statement that is completely true and identifies the people in that group perfectly: A child of God. And we are all children of God. Every. Single. One. And in every single one of us there is good. But in every single one of us there is also the potential to do bad. To sin. Some of our sins are bigger than others, but that doesn’t mean we’re any worse or better. We are all children of God and yet we are all so different.
I’m not saying that we should just let people do whatever they want and get away with it, but that our approach and actions should be towards those specific people, and not the people that we force them to represent.
Now, people are entitled and can have their opinions of course. But opinions become voices. And if we don’t try to spread the truth about God’s love, mercy and forgiveness, other voices will rise that will spread the lies of hate, revenge, and selfishness.
And God’s voice needs to be louder.
