Whether we are leaders or mere citizens, we are reminded that Jesus shared bread with sinners and outcasts and invited us to follow his lead; we may be entertaining angels in disguise! Living with integrity and showing love in difficult situations is as relevant a challenge now as it was for the early Christians. Are we ready to take the risk?

This week's news

Antionette Tuff , an elementary school worker in Georgia talks a 20-year-old with an AK-47-type rifle and 500 rounds of ammunition into putting down his weapon and giving himself up. (Start at 5 minutes into video if you don't want to listen to the whole call.)

World leaders condemn chemical weapon attacks in Syria and NATO considers its options.

Lessons are learnt from the serious case review of Paul Wilson, the Birmingham nursery worker jailed for raping a toddler at the nursery where he worked.

Badger culling starts in Somerset, amid conflict between farmers and animal activists.

It's 50 years since Martin Luther King delivered his 'I have a dream' speech at the march in Washington.

The body of a homeless man is found crushed in a recycling bin.

Will Dushane stay at the top? Urban street leadership is explored in the drug and gang culture series, Top Boy.

Reflection

Where might we look for angels today? Syrian forces using chemical weapons, convicted paedophiles, mentally disturbed gunners: it’s challenging to recognise God's message in the humanity behind such acts of evil, but this reading from Hebrews seems clear that that is our calling. 

How do we respond to such sinful acts? Antoinette Tuff provides an inspirational example, recognising Michael Hill as a disturbed young man who needed love and help and talking to him as though to her own son.

Martin Luther King gives an example to our world leaders as they face the challenge of the Syrian conflict. In Washington he forged a path of peace and unity. His dream was of a global feast, a world where saints and sinners all break bread together.

It is harder to imagine breaking bread with someone who sexually abuses a toddler. The emphasis on sexual morality in the reading is easier to understand when you consider the impact of such crimes. I work with other survivors of abuse and we refer to forgiveness as the 'F' word as it is so challenging for victims. But that is the radical love Jesus offers Paul Wilson and others like him. Can we strive to do the same?

It seems that angels bring us a message of the other point of view. Violence in Syria may be met by responses other than violence. Gunmen like Michael Hill can be turned by understanding and empathy. Paul Wilson was very likely a victim of abuse himself and certainly needs more than incarceration to reform him. The life of badgers deserves respect, but so does the livelihood of farmers. These are moral, not just political, questions.

When a homeless man can be thrown unnoticed into a bin, and drugs and gangs are accepted as part of our urban scenery, where is our moral compass today? 

Prayer

This could be used in group worship on today's themes. It could be strengthened with pictures from this week's news.

Lord help us to love the angels in disguise:
troubled young men with guns and knives;
s ex offenders and domestic abusers; 
the homeless, the discarded, the addicted drug user;
t he leaders who prefer weaponry to unity.

Lord help us to be the angels in plain view:
loving leaders and caring citizens;
reformers and peacemakers;
living the dream of your radical freedom;
s howing your good way in all of our lives.

Amen.

Questions

• Where do you look to find the 'angels in disguise' today? Who are the outcasts you find hardest to love?
• How can you show hospitality and love to your angels? Is your church actively touching the lives of sinners, prisoners, outcasts and fallen angels where you are? In our world?
• Where do you look for your moral compass? Are today's leaders providing the model that you want to follow? Are you holding them accountable for their leadership?

Action

Give your moral compass a health check this week. Pray and reflect with each other, or in your own quiet time, about the moral principles that guide your life and how you are a living example for your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours. Think of one step you can take to improve and make that your goal for this week. 

Young People

Who are the leaders and role models you look up to? Research about the life and works of Martin Luther King (try and mindmap the qualities of leadership that he showed). Then make your own mindmap of what you look for in a role model or leader. How can you be more like the leaders you look up to?

Jane Chevous is an educator and director of Reshapers CIC, a creative learning company.

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