Word to the Wise
Thursday, September 13, 2012 - Thursday in the 23th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Cor 8:1b-7, 11-13 and Luke 6:27-38]To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
The community for which Luke wrote his gospel was undergoing persecution. When one is being physically assaulted, emotionally abused and suffering the loss of house and belongings, it is not easy to remember Jesus' teachings about loving one's enemies! Yet, at the core of Jesus' teaching about love is the "golden rule." Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This goes beyond the "tit for tat" or "scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" ethic in which we love only those who will love us in return! It means embracing a positive and non-violent reaching out to all persons. Jesus challenges us to stop judging others and to be generous beyond what is expected. He challenges us to forgive!
Over the centuries, Christian disciples have found these teachings extremely difficult to live up to. This is particularly true of non-violent response to persecution! There are always the "what if.....?" arguments that try to chip away at Jesus' teachings by a kind of "what he really meant was...." so that we can indulge our need for revenge! I am reminded of G. K. Chesterton's famous quote: "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried." Can we disciples call ourselves disciples if we haven't really tried? AMEN