Love your enemies - it will drive them crazy

‘…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…’ (Matthew 5:44)

From Matthew 5:38-48 (Year A: Lent -2)

Continuing with the Sermon on the Mount in Chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel the reader encounters more disruptive advice. Not only is liturgical life disrupted according to the preceding verses (‘..first go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift..’) but so also is ordinary everyday life in organisations, families, politics, media, neighbourhoods, churches, trade unions and every other walk of life.

In the face of bad behaviour, untruths and injustices what are we invited to do? Answer with more bad behaviour? No, we are bid to ‘turn the other cheek’, ‘go the extra mile’ and ‘giving a shirt in addition ..’ This sort of response risks destabilising organisations and situations. It is not the way the real world works, it might be claimed.  The guiding principle of realpolitik is hitting back, pre-empting, covering your own interests and if this does not work wheeling, dealing and ultimately cutting a deal and moving on.  Instead, Jesus is telling those who will listen that we should let go and let live. Why? Surely, it is not right to refuse to stand up to injustice? Surely, we must act sensibly to defend our good name and reputation against attack that is unwarranted?

It is easy to miss the point here.  The Sermon the Mount is not a call to passivity, submission or collaboration in unjust situations. Rather it bids us to reach beyond the immediate situation to the other person or persons who deserve our deepest respect even if we think they are by far in the wrong. By always wanting what is best for the other as well as one self (the injunction is to love the other as oneself). In this sense turning the other cheek and going the extra mile is an act of defiant trust and freedom.

Be radical or perish

(To the Sources)

‘…first go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift?’ (Matthew 5:24)

From Matthew 5:21-37 (Year A: Lent -3)

An Irish politician once declared ‘be radical or perish’ (his party did perish but not for want of trying to be radical).  When Jesus declared – in an extended elaboration of the Sermon the Mount – that:

 ‘..if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.’ (Matthew 5:23-24)

He was throwing down something very, very radical to those listening to him as well as those who still listen to his words – and seek to put them into practice.

Sometimes, folks use scripture ‘literally’ to advance claims or defend some line of understanding or behaviour. Other times, when it suits, folks negotiate, adapt and explain away what is too challenging or puzzling. 

This particular passage from the 5^th chapter of Matthew is, potentially, very troubling. Taken literally, it would disrupt much of the ritual and liturgical life of churches – seriously. If for every time we offer some prayer or act of worship and remember that our ‘brother or sister has something against’ us could we ever function or proceed with ‘normal’ church business. I have no easy answer to this question. Each has to examine his or her conscience before an act of worship, offering or communal prayer. Not without reason is a common act of confession at the beginning of a service or morning prayer, evening prayer or Eucharist. And not without reason is the ‘sign of peace’ – that sometimes perfunctory and cold act with which some cultures are uncomfortable –  inserted before communion.

Is it possible that that some communities, churches, groups and individuals are perishing and failing to grow and flourish because reconciliation has been displaced by ritualism, self-righteousness and smug self-certainty?

If churches and individuals perish it is because they were not radical enough. Lets not live in such a way as to meet our final day regretting that we were not radical enough.

Ordinary decent salt of the earth

To the sources:

From Matthew 4:13-20 (Year A: Lent -4)

Apparently salt is everywhere – our bodies, the oceans and in the ground. Wouldn’t surprise me if it is in the air especially in coastal places!  So, salt is everywhere but rarely seen except on the dining table.

In this Gospel passage Jesus didn’t say ‘you must be salt …’. He said ‘You are the salt of the earth’.  By saying this He was recognising the fact that the world is always full of ‘salt’ in the children, women and men who go about their ordinary lives doing ordinary things in an ordinary way. It is in this ordinariness that light is seen and witness shown. We speak of so and so as being ‘salt of the earth’ meaning that the person in question is just an ordinary, decent , trustworthy and good person.

Perhaps too often we focus on the saltiness of others and cities afar off – past or present.  Rather, we should let the salt within be effective. In that way we become light for each other – villages lit up in dark ordinary places and not just cities on a hill.

As the late Brother Roger of Taizé once said:

“Where would we be today if certain women, men, young people and also children had not arisen at moments when the human family seemed destined for the worst? They did not say: "Let things take their course! Beyond the confrontations between persons, peoples and spiritual families, they prepared a way of trusting. Their lives bear witness to the fact that human beings have not been created for hopelessness.”

A wounded blessing

To the sources:

From Luke 2:22-40 (Year A: Presentation of Jesus)

Simeon blessed the child Jesus and his mother Mary. But it was, so to speak, a mixed blessing. In fact it was also a wounding (the French word is blessure).  He foretold a deep wounding and by foretelling it Mary knew that blessings of a wounding sort were in store for her.

Sometimes people can says things to us that are deeply wounding. Or, we sometimes can do the same to others.  What is so wounding is the ‘thoughts revealed’ as Simeon says in the same breath. We speak from what is within the heart and, unfortunately, what is there is not always to our own good or those who hear us. But, sometimes what has a wounding effect is, ultimately, for the good of the other or ourselves.

The ultimate wounding for Mary occurred in the desolation of calvary.  We are all destined at some stage to face deeply wounding moments in our life’s journey.  With great blessings and giftedness comes much responsibility and not infrequently great suffering, misunderstanding - even persecution.

Mary’s discipleship began at the annunciation, was confirmed at the presentation and reached its low point on calvary and a high point 2 days later.  Nobody ever claimed that Christian discipleship is a picnic. It’s a journey with sudden and sharp twists and turns interspersed with long periods of even ground.  Simeon knew this only too well.

Carpe Diem

To the sources:

From Matthew 4:12-23 (Year A: Epiphany + 3)

The Latin phrase ‘Carpe Diem’ is typically translated as ‘Seize the Day’. Perhaps  more a literal translation of the term would suggest ‘enjoy the day’ or ‘pluck the day’. Whichever version you prefer the term has poignancy in the here and now. When Jesus declares that the ‘kingdom of heaven has come near you’ he meant just that.  Elsewhere he told his listeners that it was ‘within you’. This inspired the title of a book by the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. (Tolstoy’s book, which advocated peaceful non-violence was viewed as so subversive that it was banned in his home country, Russia).

Seizing the day – or the moment – is a discipline that requires letting go of the past and the future. The past and future can be favourite excursion destinations in the dance hall of the human mind. However, the Sabbath – a time of rest – is the real holiday that lies near us, within us, in our midst. It is elusive because it cannot be typically ‘caught’ (thus negating the notion of plucking or seizing it as suggested by Carpe Diem). Rather we must let it catch us. However, that requires discipline and self-emptying – at least some of the time. Then we are ready for action again. Taste and see goodness today in all the events, natural world and passing emotions of this day. Carpe Diem – grab hold of this day.

What do we really want?

To the sources

From John 1:29-42 (Year A: Epiphany + 2)

The search for something can begin in the simplest of ways. A lost object, a fond memory, an unresolved conflict, an aching sense that something is not quite right …. ‘What do you want’ asks Jesus in this passage. He could be asking this of each one of us day by day. What do we want? Really? Answering that requires focus, honesty and courage. Much of the time we don’t even know what we want because we are too busy to examine what it is that we seek.

Facing up to those things that we really seek is a form of liberation. The truth will set you free as is written later in this Gospel. In some forms of Eastern mysticism liberation from desire is the highest form of freedom. Echoes of this are found in strands of Western mysticism. A wise counsel is to ‘know thyself’ (Another might also help). Then we can discern which goals and which desires are really worth giving our lives for. Only then we can face, with complete abandonment the question: ‘do you seek me with all your heart?’ All.

Where then do we begin?’ Meister Eckhart once asked.  ‘Begin with the heart’ was the reply.

On Baptism

To the Sources:

From Matthew 3:13-17 (Year A: Baptism of the Lord)

Let it be is the title of a Beatles song. ‘There will be an answer’ came into the lyrics. But, sometimes there is no answer. It makes no sense. Like the extremes of cruelty and human suffering allowed by an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God. Some walk away and say ‘this makes no sense, therefore it cannot be true and I refuse to believe’. Others say ‘this makes no sense, but it must be true in some way I cannot understand fully and I trust: therefore I believe’. Still others don’t think about it at all.

Whatever we think we can chose to respond to what makes no sense by acts of compassion. This too is a form of faith. As John wrestled by the river Jordan with Jesus and his demand which made no sense to John then, he was wrestling with himself. And trust won. Trust is the beginning of our baptismal journey as someone holds us in their arms and pours cold water over our heads.

Following Stars around the World

To the Sources:

From Matthew 2:1-12 (Year A:Epiphany)

Following ‘your dreams’ (assuming we still have some) is important in life (and assuming that there is life before death). Stars are like cut-out specs in a giant canvas of the heavens. They let in light and hint at worlds beyond the ones we touch, see and hear.  Following your star brings up images of fate. However, life is in our hands if we know how to seize the here and now. Following a star – or rather letting ourselves be led by a star is important. But which star to follow? And how do we discern good stars from bad stars in our lives? Note that the gospel of St Matthew speaks of ‘wise men’ in the plural without saying how many. Where two or three …. We travel under a good star together and not alone. But, we need to discern and avoid tricksters and chancers like Herrod who are up to no good. A spiritual journey of discernment is a journey for life which is never undertaken alone and can lead to joy. When they found what they were looking for the Gospel tells us that they were ‘overjoyed’. Not just joy but ‘overjoy’. Or surprised by joy as C.S. Lewis might have put it.

But, we are each given, I believe, a star to follow – a unique path and goal. We don’t need to go outdoors gazing at the night sky or we don’t need to look up our horoscope every day. The star is within – deep within ourselves if we care to go there in silence and wonder. This star will lead to ‘God only knows where’ – full of surprises, full of joy and full of peace beyond our wildest dreams and imaginings. And the end goal is not the star but that which the star leads to. It lights our path and shows us where to go step by step. And this is faith.

Red Alerts

From Matthew 2:13-23 (Year A:Christmas1)

Staying the course with one thing doesn’t come easily especially when contemporary consumerism offers many options, colours, models, opt-outs and opt-ins and terms and conditions to click as read. Attention spans are measured in seconds rather than minutes. Advertisers (and unfortunately politicians and media professionals) know this only too well. However, people who have passed through great danger and suffering attest to the power of the ‘present moment’ – when suspended between the past and the future there are no choices or options. You survive through fleeing wisely to safety or fighting or standing your ground where you are. In great danger decision is called for. Courage comes later!

In this passage Joseph, the ‘man of honour’ does the honourable thing – defends those in his care and avoids what is evil by removing them from immediate danger.  A romanticised and nostalgic picture of the Christmas crib gives way very quickly to a picture of violence and the threat of violence and the human response to this.  According to the Gospel story the first Christmas did not leave a trail of peace in ‘Bethlehem and its vicinity’ especially if you were a family with an infant boy under the age of 2. The consequences are harrowing and deeply troubling (Matt. 2:18) and echo through the ages to the present day:

“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

In a world of violence, power struggles and hatred, families and small communities on the margins of society continue to survive. For some it means fleeing and ‘staying the course’ wherever they find themselves after fleeing. There are no options or choices when it comes to survival in the face of death.

And this is the daily lot of 100,000s of refugees right now, this Christmas, in the Middle East – in ‘Bethlehem and its vicinity’. There are lots of Josephs out there still ….And some of them might be nearer than we think. Worth thinking about.

On being a man of honour

From Matthew 1:18-24 (Year A:Advent4)

Husband wanted one who cares and is honest. Joseph emerges in this story as Care-Full, Clear, Decisive and Courageous. He followed his dreams because he trusted the call addressed to him. He could have walked away. Or, he could have procrastinated. But, he followed, decisively, what was asked of him in the difficult and perplexing situation in which he found himself. In that situation he was ready to abandon his own plans or calculations to follow another way – entirely unforeseen, unexpected and unusual. His decisiveness was born of care – care for others and Mary in particular ‘did not want to expose her to public disgrace’.  While it is often difficult to step into the mind and culture of another era – in this case 1^st century Palestine – it is possible to understand Joseph’s dilemma as characteristic of a strong familial culture where bonds of duty, honour and justice were to the fore within a tribe or extended family.

Let’s say Joseph was a good catch. How many among us can say that we always act with courage, decisiveness and care? Following Christ is costly as Bonhoeffer showed to the very end.

Sending Messengers

To the Sources:

From Matthew 11:2-11 (Year A:Advent3)

Sending messages electronically is now more common than writing letters or making telephone calls. In every age humans live by communication. We live in the words we speak and think. They shape who we are and we shape them. All is communication. Preparing a way ahead before each of us is the Word spoken once and for all and continuously. Listening to that Word now can liberate us and lighten our path before us. We may not know the way or how but we can take one step and often, the message is a messenger who crosses our path often in those moments of intense pain and suffering when little makes sense. Listen and watch for the messenger today!