And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Matthew 15:27
You might ask what does the familiar verse about crumbs from the table have to do with the death penalty, and I have to admit I don’t know.
I had planned on discussing this verse and suggesting we all check our pantries and closets before the cold weather arrives, but I can come back to that.
A dear friend sent me something about the woman in Georgia who was executed this morning. Over eighteen years ago this woman encouraged her boyfriend to murder her husband and the boyfriend did it. The boyfriend who carried out the murder will spend a long time in prison. The woman who encouraged him to do it, but did not wield the weapon, was executed.
Besides being puzzled by the unequal treatment of the two lovers, I cannot help but believe that every time our government kills one of its citizens, one of God’s children, it sends a terrible message.
Eighteen years on death row, millions of dollars spent, and we respond with an eye for an eye, rather than a just and proportionate punishment.
There are many arguments against the death penalty, but my friend sent me one I suggest we all consider.
If the woman was your daughter, could you cast the first stone, or flip the lever, or inject the needle that ended her life. Well she was our daughter in a way, certainly our neighbor and God’s daughter, and when our government acts in such a way are we all really saying we are without sin.
Food for thought.
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