Day 18 | Matt’s story

Reflection

Saturday. It’s open day at a boys’ comprehensive. A prefect (senior pupil) arrives, hoping to slip his car into the school car park. But on open days, it’s reserved for prospective parents. Angry, after parking in a space far, far away, he starts telling prospective parents not to send their sons to the school – inventing a list of reasons to help his cause.

Lots of the boys are furious – they’re proud of their school and have worked hard to show it off. The head boy, Matt, has to restrain the prefect in charge of anti-bullying from taking the law, and the boy, into his own hands. Some teachers intervene. At the end of the day, Matt – a Christian – goes home, equally angry.

The next day Matt realises that the school community might well give the rebel an extremely cold shoulder. What should he do? In the event, he messages his deputies to come to a meeting the following day.

He tells them his concerns; this boy runs the risk of being ostracised and bullied. As leaders, they should build community and harmony. Instead of shunning the guilty party, they will attempt to practice forgiveness and welcome him back into the fold.

And so they do. As they do, they taste an alternative way of doing things; as they do, they taste the ways of Jesus. Both Jonathan (later in the story following today’s passage) and Matt chose to be purposeful peacemakers for the sake of both their friends and God.

We all have the opportunity to be that person of peace in a group of friends, who is the first to forgive and call others into forgiveness as well.

Father, today help me look out for the places where I can change culture in my friendships. Help me to show the way of peace and forgiveness: the way of Jesus. Amen.