In the Shadows of Georgia: A Modern Crucifixion

In a narrative that seems to unfold repeatedly on the modern stage, another one of God's children has gone home, due to police action on the streets of Georgia. This week a 53-year-old Black man, Leonard Allan Cure's life was cut short during a tragic encounter with a law enforcement officer. As recounted by Reuters, the incident was precipitated by a traffic stop, evolving rapidly into a physical confrontation and culminating in a point-blank shooting that left Cure lifeless​.

Mr. Cure's experience is a haunting echo of a past filled with tales of systemic violence against oppressed groups. As members of a faith that was birthed in the crucible of persecution and oppression, Episcopalians can find resonating threads between the plight of Jesus Christ, the early Christians, and the contemporary victims of systemic violence.

Jesus Christ, a figure embodying love, peace, and justice, found Himself nailed to a cross, a victim of the oppressive systems of His time. His message of love and inclusivity was a threat to the established order, much like the cries for justice today threaten the existing structures of racial and social inequality. The early Christians too faced a barrage of persecution, their faith offering a critique of the Roman Empire's ethos of domination.

The Book of Common Prayer in its plea for peace articulates, "Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love..." This prayer accentuates the stark contrast between the divine principles of love, and justice, and the violent realities that unfold on our streets.

Drawing parallels, the life of Leonard Allan Cure before the fatal incident was already marred by a miscarriage of justice. Wrongfully convicted of armed robbery, he spent 16 years in prison before exoneration. His encounter with systemic injustice didn’t end with his release; it tragically followed him onto the streets of Georgia, ending his life prematurely​.

The scriptures and our liturgy constantly remind us of the call to justice. The biblical narrative is filled with God's preferential option for the marginalized, the oppressed. As Psalm 34:18 articulates, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit." Our faith beckons us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed, to voice out against the systemic violence that snuffs out lives unjustly.

Cure's family and their attorney, Ben Crump, questioned the lack of de-escalation tactics employed during the encounter. They lamented the absence of patience and understanding, attributes that could have potentially averted the tragedy​.

This tragic incident invites a reflection on the systemic violence that pervades our society, a call to embody the compassionate and justice-oriented ethos of Jesus Christ. As we delve into the painful narratives of Leonard Allan Cure and many others, may we be propelled to advocate for a world where justice rolls down like water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24).