“‘神的选民昼夜呼吁他，〔他〕岂不终久给他们伸冤吗？’” - 路 18:7
在圣经中，寡妇代表了社会上最脆弱无助的一类成员。耶稣在这里所说的比喻中的寡妇需要人帮助，因为掌权的人并不留意为她伸冤。根据我们“鱼的谚语”来说，她不需要“鱼”，她也不需要人教她“怎样捕鱼”。事实上她的权利被否定了，她被剥夺了“捕鱼的机会。”
有时我们可能会猜想，人之所以贫穷，是因为他们自己有缺点。他们或许没有全力以赴，又或者他们没有足够的动力。然而这些猜想可能是错误的。在我遇到的穷人当中，大部份都比我更努力工作和积极勤勉的。他们贫穷，是制度不公平带来的恶果。换句话说，有人偷了他们的“捕鱼工具”、或通往他们的“养鱼塘”的路被阻塞了。处于这些境况的人不需要“鱼”或“学习如何捕鱼”；他们的需要的乃是公平待遇。
在这里，公平的意思是被赋予权力、有享用机会、能参与决策、被尊重人权、和能倡导行动。圣经中的公平关乎修复破碎和扭曲的关系，包括人与人之间的关系，地方性的关系，或世界性的关系和影响整体的关系。
神应许为向祂呼求的人带来公平，我们是否也应该为他们呼求呢？
祷告
亲爱的神，在我的生活和社区中，求你帮助我看到怎样才是真正的公平。又求你叫我成为传递你平安的工具。阿们。
路加福音 18:1-8
1耶稣设一个比喻，是要人常常祷告，不可灰心。
2说：“某城里有一个官，不惧怕神，也不尊重世人。
3那城里有个寡妇，常到他那里，说：‘我有一个对头，求你给我申冤。’
4他多日不准，后来心里说：‘我虽不惧怕神，也不尊重世人，
5只因这寡妇烦扰我，我就给她申冤吧，免得她常来缠磨我。’”
6主说：“你们听这不义之官所说的话。
7神的选民昼夜呼吁他，他纵然为他们忍了多时，岂不终久给他们申冤吗？
8我告诉你们：要快快地给他们申冤了。然而，人子来的时候，遇得见世上有信德吗？”
Ways To Help (3)
"Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?" - Luke 18:7
In the Bible widows represent the most vulnerable members of society. In Jesus’ parable here, the widow is in need because people in power do not care about her need for justice. In terms of our “fish proverb,” she does not need a “fish”; nor does she need to be taught “how to fish.” She is being denied her rights, and she is deprived of an “opportunity to fish.”
We may sometimes imagine that people are poor because of some inadequacy on their part. Maybe we think they don’t work hard enough, or they aren’t sufficiently motivated. But that would probably be a mistake. Most poor people I’ve encountered work harder than I’ve ever worked and are highly motivated. Their poverty is a consequence of injustice. In other words, someone has stolen their “fishing gear” or blocked access to their “fishing pond.” People in such circumstances don’t need a “fish” or a “fishing lesson”; they need justice.
Justice in this sense means empowerment, access, participation in decision making, respect for human rights, and advocacy. Biblical justice is about healing relationships that are broken and twisted, whether they are personal and local, or global and systemic.
God has promised to bring about justice for those who cry out to him. Should we cry out on their behalf?
Prayer
Dear God, help me to see what justice should look like in my life and community. Make me an instrument of your shalom. Amen.
