Saturday, September 19, 2020
Although as John Donne wrote, the death of one person diminishes us, there are the deaths of certain persons that diminish us even more greatly. The death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg is such a death. Except for certain politicians who are now salivating at her passing, the world of law is now mourning the loss of a “Jurist of historic stature,” as the Chief Justice called her.
Even some who did not necessarily agree with her rulings, whether in the majority or in dissent respected Ginsberg as a thoughtful and passionate advocate not only for women but for all the marginalized of our society.
Ginsberg came out of a family of immigrants at a time when our Nation respected the contributions immigrants made in building America. Rejected for a Supreme Court clerkship because she was a woman, she became the first tenured woman at Columbia Law School balancing work and family. And who could forget that image of her in her sweatshirt lifting weights? Indeed, we are diminished greatly.
Prayer for the Day
You come to us, O Lord, where we are, not where we would like to be;
May we be open to your grace and to your power.
You find us, O God, in the bustle of our work and our daily lives;
May we respond to your call and listen to your word.
You embrace us even when we resist your love
And hold us when we are despondent and in despair.
May we accept your loving embrace, your nurturing grace,
So we are healed and able to love and nurture others.
In the name of him who is your grace and your love,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
When I’m asked “When will there be enough [women on the Supreme Court]?” and I say “When there are nine,” people are shocked. But there’d been nine men and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020)
When contemplated in its extreme, almost any power looks dangerous.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020)
Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,
And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind,
For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.
Psalm 26:1–3