REQUIRED RESTITUTION FOR THE OPIOID CRISIS
After six years in court and countless appeals, Purdue Pharma (maker of the prescription opioid OxyContin) received its sentence. Purdue admitted that it falsely marketed OxyContin as safe and less addictive. A court-mandated apology from Purdue’s chairman acknowledged regret and responsibility, and Purdue will dissolve into a nonprofit devoted to addressing opioid addiction, paying $5.5 billion in fines and penalties (beginning this year). Still, some don’t see this as just or adequate. Victims sent the court over two hundred letters describing personal loss and tragedies related to opioid addiction, with some demanding consequences like jailtime for the Sackler family (owners of the company). Even the judge acknowledged “inadequacy” in the law’s response.
VOLUNTARY RESTITUTION FROM A LOST CHILD OF GOD
Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem, where He will enter on a donkey. On the way, Jesus enters Jericho, where the chief tax collector, named Zacchaeus, is curious about Him. Zacchaeus climbs a tree to get a better view, but Jesus comes and invites Zacchaeus (by name) to be His host. Seeing Jesus plan to eat at the home of Zacchaeus makes the crowd mutter. But after being with Jesus, Zacchaeus promises not only to return ill-gotten funds but to make restitution four times over. Jesus says that salvation has come to Zacchaeus’s home; even Zacchaeus is a member of God’s people. By “finding” lost people like Zacchaeus, Jesus is fulfilling His mission.
Questions
- What would it take to rectify the wrongs of the Purdue scandal?
- When do you know if someone is truly sorry?
- What could Jesus offer to Zacchaeus?