Just Mercy: Embodied Answer to Injustice - Progressive (1 Peter 3:15)

In the heart of Montgomery, Alabama, there stands a modest yet powerful building: the Legacy Museum, a place where Bryan Stevenson has poured his life’s work into confronting injustice. Picture the moment when you walk through its doors, the air thick with history and heartache. Each exhibit tells a story — of lives shattered by prejudice, of families torn apart by systemic failures, and yet, amidst the sorrow, a thread of hope weaves its way through the narratives.

Stevenson often shares about a young man named Charlie, who was sentenced to life without parole for a crime he committed as a child. In the sterile confines of a courtroom, there’s little more than cold legal jargon, but Stevenson sees something deeper: a child who deserves a chance, a life that’s worth redeeming. He doesn’t just argue for Charlie’s freedom; he advocates for his humanity, embodying the very essence of hesed, that steadfast love that God extends to us.

In 1 Peter 3:15, we are urged to always be prepared to give an answer for our hope. Yet, Stevenson teaches us that sometimes our most profound answers are not found in eloquent speeches or theological debates, but in the simple, relentless work of justice — in standing alongside those who suffer. It’s the gentle approach, an act of agape, love in action, that speaks volumes about our faith.

Stevenson’s mission is a living testament to the resurrection hope we hold. It compels us to ask: how do our actions reflect our faith? When we stand up for justice with gentleness and respect, even toward an unjust system, we become ambassadors of hope. Let your life be the answer to the world’s questions, a vivid embodiment of justice and mercy that resonates louder than words ever could.