Jeremiah reminds the Israelites the old saying that the descendants will suffer the consequences of the sins of their forebearers.  The instruction in Exodus (20:5) to them was, “I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me.” According to the terms of the commandments sins are inheritable as the punishment will extend to third and fourth generations. 

However, Jeremiah assures, it is no longer so with God’s new covenant. Jeremiah introduces God’s restorative work to the people. God’s justice cannot be imposed through punishment through third and fourth generations.  

God’s promise of change and ongoing process of saving people is already underway through Jesus Christ. God’s restorative work is happening in people. People must be open to and follow the instructions, not as obeying the law of Exodus, but as following the teaching of Jesus Christ. 

How do we engage in God’s restorative act? What is the exact change God is expecting in us? 

The call is to be persistent in action. God’s law has repeatedly inspired people to work for equality, the fair distribution of resources, and the general appreciation for the contribution made by those who are often over looked. 

The stop work called by nurses, doctors, teachers, and fire fighters on Thursday 23 October is to ask the government to address the injustices. Some people criticise them. Those on the side of the government blame the unions. But the parents and patients have spoken against the blaming. They agree with paying fair wages to the workers. They are us. 

To lay the issue very briefly, the salaries of the members of parliament are increased by 10.5 percent over three years. But for the teachers and nurses a one percent increase over three years. This is one of the injustices we witness in our country today. 

There is a need to petition God. We petition God about the injustice in Palestine. It is important. It is also important to petition God for justice; justice for the people who are made to over work and underpaid.   

The need to act on behalf of the poor, the ignored and the exploited is in keeping with God’s will for justice. The call in our community is for equity, for fair share of resources. Equity is God’s justice. 

Jesus draws the attention of the people to address the cry for justice. The parable of the widow and the unjust judge cuts in two ways. It points to our need to be persistent in petitioning God for justice. It also points to the need for those in authority to act on behalf of the poor because it is in keeping with God’s will for justice. 

Conversations about justice are incomplete without reflections upon power and privilege. Those who are in power, and in privileged positions only care for themselves. They do not consider the wellbeing of all. Therefore, people have to go on strike to call those in authority to address the injustice. 

In this parable, the judge is the authority, who has worldly power and privilege. He holds a higher status and connected to influencers. His word interprets governance that impacts the governed. He has means to support himself. Considering the parable, I think the power that governs us is like the unjust judge. 

Conversely, the widow, a woman treated as an underclass, or rather in our prime minister’s words, a bottom feeder. Her position is resonating with destitution. Widows were without help or kin. They had no one to advocate for them. 

Jesus shows the persistence of the widow. She prevailed until she was served justice. Her petitioning continued until the unjust judge decided to grant her justice. Not so much in terms of justice for the widow, but that she may not wear out the judge by continually coming. 

I see the struggle in our society between the governing class and the working class. Their struggle echoes with Jesus’ parable of the widow and the unjust judge. 

The widow is not without power either. She uses her faith and her voice ceaselessly. In relation to the values of the kingdom of God, she is an example of relentless persistence and quiet confidence in the face of the empire. Jesus portrays her as an example that justice can be handed down and that we must continue to work towards it. Our first step is to be persistent in prayer for justice. 

The choice before us is, whether we stand with those govern and blame the nurses, doctors, teachers, and firefighters or stand with those who are persistent in their cry for fair wages and proper working conditions? 

My conscience makes me to stand by the widow and petition God for justice on their behalf. Let us be persistent in praying for justice.