15.1: Justice &
Reconciliation
Biblical Texts
Read Mark 2:1-12 The
Paralysed Man
This is the story of the paralysed man. Jesus cured the paralysis by declaring that the
mans sins were forgiven. It is, therefore possible that he was suffering from
hysterical paralysis, in which the mind causes the body to be paralysed. In this
mans case it is likely that a terrible sense of guilt caused the problem.
Jesus word cut deep into the mans soul and restored him, breaking the chains
of sin and guilt. When the scribes were shocked that Jesus claimed to forgive sins, he
showed that God was with him by declaring the man healed. The great thing about Jesus was
that he could get to the heart of any matter.
Christians Read a message into this story. It is that sin is never fun in the long run.
It looks attractive, but always damages you. It affects your personality more than your
body. Personality can be ruined by sin. Only by bringing Christ into your life can you
repair the damage done by your sins.
Task RC 1
Describe the healing of the paralysed man as if you were an eyewitness.
Task RC 2
Think of some things that people do wrong. Choose one and show how it will damage a
person, their relationships and society.
Read Luke 15:11-32
This is the great story of the Prodigal Son. To understand this story you should see
that the lad had hit rock bottom. The Jewish religion puts a great store by loyalty to
God, nation and family. It is a matter of vital importance to a Jew that the family
inheritance be kept intact. They did not eat pig meat. Pious Jews of Jesus day did
not even eat with foreigners. The boy abandoned his family and nation and lived outside
Gods law, having parties, presumably with foreigners and sleeping with foreign
women. He wasted his inheritance and was reduced to feeding pigs. He could not have sunk
lower. Yet the father, God, allows him back. The message here is that even the worst sins
can be forgiven. The father is so rich that he can afford to be madly generous to the boy.
The implication here is that God has an infinite wealth of love for his people. The boy
returns to the true wealth, the love of God, abandoning the false attractions of sin.
The eldest son missed the point entirely. He should have realised that the time to
celebrate was when his brother returned.
Task RC 3
This boy had reached "rock bottom." Why?
Task RC 4
What is the message of this parable?
Task RC 5
What was the eldest sons mistake?
Task RC 6
This parable is Read by people of all religions, not just Christianity. Why do you
think that people find it so appealing?
Read Luke 7:1-10
This is the story of the centurions servant. The centurion seemed to be a good
person who displayed so much faith in Christ that he was convinced that Christ only needed
to say a word for a cure to happen. Christ publicly acknowledged the greatness of his
faith and said that he had not met faith in Israel as great as this. Here we have Jesus
breaking the constraints of nationalism. Many Jews considered that non-Jews, Gentiles,
were inferior, even if they were good people. Jesus is saying that anyone of any race can
reach the highest standards in Gods service. This breaks the chains of prejudice and
challenges people to see the worth of people of races other than their own.
Task RC 7
Imagine that you were the centurion. Tell the story.
Task RC 8
One great problem is the way in which people laugh at or despise the customs of other
religions and races. Can you think of any instances of this behaviour? How should
Christians react to the practices of religions different from their own?
Read the Letter of St
Paul to Philemon
This is a small letter, but vitally important, so you should Read it carefully.
Onesimus was a runaway slave of a man called Philemon. It seems that after Onesimus had
run away Philemon became a Christian and by coincidence Paul met Onesimus, who was
probably down on his luck. The life of a runaway slave in the Roman world was hard, such
slaves were always on the run, and death was the penalty for escape. Paul says that
Onesimus had not been much use to Philemon, so it seems that he was not a very able
person. But Paul asked Philemon to take him back, not as a slave but as a Christian
brother.
The importance of this passage is that it breaks new ground in master-servant
relations. Slavery has no place in the Christian community. The master is being urged to
be generous to a rather inadequate worker. True Christian fellowship overrides the formal
relationships between master and servant, employer and employee. All are one in Jesus
Christ.
The Catholic Church has always taught that both employers and employees have rights and
must be justly treated. The Church teaches that workers must never be regarded as just
pieces of machinery, but as persons in their own right. Workers must not attempt to cheat
their employers.
Task RC 9
Explain why it was better for Onesimus to be taken back by Philemon.
Task RC 10
What reasons did Paul give to Philemon to take Onesimus back?
Task RC 11
What lessons can we learn for life in our time from this letter?
Read the Letter of St
James chapter 2:1-9
This is an attack on snobbery. James is adamant that in the church rich and poor must
be treated alike. People should not be given more respect merely because they have money.
James has a message for our time. Just because a person has money, good looks, power,
popularity and so on, it does not mean that they are entitled to a degree of respect that
people not so well-endowed are entitled to. We should value people for what is inside
them, their character, their goodness, not for superficial things such as money.
Task RC 12
In your own words say what James says in this passage.
Task RC 13
Why do you think such discrimination on wealth grounds is unchristian?
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