A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: BELIEVING IN REPENTANCE
Grace and peace to you,
Years ago when I was working for a private foundation as a program officer (I got to read a lot of proposals and make grant recommendations), one of the areas we funded was prisoner reentry programs.
I remember the boardroom conversations – 
questions about would these programs make a difference, high reoffending rates, should we support efforts to help those formerly incarcerated find a way to make things whole. They were often hard and difficult conversations from which I left frustrated. Did we believe in repentance or not? Did we believe someone would want to repair the harm caused?
That is the impetus behind restorative justice programs which are an approach to justice that focuses on repairing harm caused by wrongdoing, emphasizing victim needs, offender accountability, and community involvement, rather than solely focusing on punishment. Isn’t that what Zacchaeus is doing or attempting to do in this story (Luke 19:1-10). Is that what Jesus is calling him to do?
Would we upon hearing Zacchaeus’ words that he is going to repent and then repair the harm he has done to people accept that? Or would we question his motives or sincerity? Could we show the same mercy towards him that Jesus did? So many questions to ponder!
Come and ponder this Sunday!
Blessings,
Pastor Karen