阅读经文 

在圣经中，寡妇代表了社会上最脆弱无助的一类成员。耶稣在这里所说的比喻中的寡妇需要人帮助，因为掌权的人并不留意为她伸冤。根据我们“鱼的谚语”来说，她不需要“鱼”，她也不需要人教她“怎样捕鱼”。事实上她的权利被否定了，她被剥夺了“捕鱼的机会。”

有时我们可能会猜想，人之所以贫穷，是因为他们自己有缺点。他们或许没有全力以赴，又或者他们没有足够的动力。然而，这些猜想可能是错误的。在我遇到的穷人当中，大部分都比我更努力工作和积极勤勉的。他们贫穷，是制度不公平带来的恶果。换句话说，有人偷了他们的“捕鱼工具”、或通往他们的“养鱼塘”的路被阻塞了。处于这些境况的人不需要“鱼”或“学习如何捕鱼”；他们的需要的乃是公平待遇。

在这里，公平的意思是被赋予权力、有享用机会、能参与决策、被尊重人权和能倡导行动。圣经中的公平关乎修复破碎和扭曲的关系，包括人与人之间的关系，地方性的关系，或世界性的关系和影响整体的关系。

神应许为向祂呼求的人带来公平，我们是否也应该为他们呼求呢？

In the Bible widows represent the most vulnerable members of society. In Jesus’ parable here, the widow is in need because people in power do not care about her need for justice. In terms of our “fish proverb,” she does not need a “fish”; nor does she need to be taught “how to fish.” She is being denied her rights, and she is deprived of an “opportunity to fish.”

We may sometimes imagine that people are poor because of some inadequacy on their part. Maybe we think they don’t work hard enough, or they aren’t sufficiently moti­vated. But that would probably be a mistake. Most poor people I’ve encountered work harder than I’ve ever worked and are highly motivated. Their poverty is a consequence of injustice. In other words, someone has stolen their “fishing gear” or blocked access to their “fishing pond.” People in such circumstances don’t need a “fish” or a “fishing lesson”; they need justice.

Justice in this sense means empowerment, access, participation in decision making, respect for human rights, and advocacy. Biblical justice is about healing relationships that are broken and twisted, whether they are personal and local, or global and systemic.

God has promised to bring about justice for those who cry out to him. Should we cry out on their behalf?