Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
v27″But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, v28bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. v29If anyone hits you on one cheek, let him hit the other one too; if someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well. v30Give to everyone who asks you for something, and when someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back. v31Do for others just what you want them to do for you.” TEV (Read full text: Luke 6:27-36)
“Kapag binato ka ng tinapay… batuhin mo rin ng tinapay… kasama ang garapon…” This expression tells us how impracticable to submit to the teachings of Jesus particularly our gospel lesson this week. Our animal instinct is to hurt back those who hurt us. Humans by nature are disposed to seek revenge. Unforgiving. Tribal wars are fought to avenge wrongful deed committed by either side. The famous epic poem written by Homer, is basically about vindictiveness among humans and gods in conflict. There is hatred in the social media among quarreling supporters of politicians accusing one another of falsehood mongering. The list of facts is endless of how difficult it is to heed Jesus, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” People hearing without listening.
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The gospel lesson this week is a continuation of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain. It is plain talk — tough talk — hard to listen to talk. Here is what sets apart the Christian faith from other religious perspectives, philosophic constructs, psychological systems and elemental common sense (and non-sense). And yet, at the end of the day, it defines the core of Christian ethics. Can we really love our enemies? If not, why did Jesus lay on us this impossible demand? If the teaching troubles you, fear not, you are not the first to back away from this bit of divine fire. And our Lord’s command stands: “v31Do for others just what you want them to do for you”.
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One of the greatest challenges in Christ’s teaching is to love those who hate and harm us. This passage of the scripture about forgiving wrongdoers and loving our enemies must rank among the most demanding ever preached by Jesus. Forgiving our enemies is not easy. Not to retaliate goes against the human grain and requires great strength and discipline of character. The message of Jesus reveals the ugly side of human nature and shows up for what we are – people who are full of petty jealousies, hatred and spites. A personal remark or a cutting word from a neighbor automatically sparks off a row and revenge is sought immediately. We trade insult for injury and end up out of sorts, nursing hatreds, harboring grudges and not speaking. Life is full of people with chips on their shoulders because they didn’t get the job, were not invited to a wedding or social function or were omitted in the list from a vote of gratitude. They carry the scars for years, refusing to let wounds heal until scores are evened out.
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In a sermon written in a Georgia jail and preached just after the bus protest in Montgomery, Alabama (December 5, 1955-December 20, 1956), Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., after noting that hate is just as injurious to the hater as the hated, said this about loving your enemies:
“Of course this is not practical; life is a matter of getting even, of hitting back, of dog eat dog…My friends, we have followed the so-called practical way for too long a time now, and it has led inexorably to deeper confusion and chaos. Time is cluttered with the wreckage of communities which surrendered to hatred and violence. For the salvation of our nation and the salvation of mankind, we must follow another way. This does not mean that we abandon our righteous efforts. With every ounce of our energy we must continue to rid this nation of the incubus of segregation. But we shall not in the process relinquish our privilege and our obligation to love. While abhorring segregation, we shall love the segregationist. This is the only way to create the beloved community.” (A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr)
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The world we live in has raised vengeance to the level of virtue and pours scorn on the weakling who doesn’t seek retaliation but allows his wife and children to be insulted. Christ rejects this law of revenge and insists on his followers repaying evil with kindness. He warns against giving in to bitterness and being obsessed with feelings of vindictiveness. Hatred never cures any situation. When we grow to hate someone we give that person power and control over us which eats into our hearts and destroys our peace of mind. Jesus tells us that such attitudes are not in line with his teachings. People who behave in such a manner have not even begun to appreciate what Christianity is all about.
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Today’s Gospel challenges the disciples and us to think beyond the culture of violence in which they lived. Luke is writing to the communities of Gentile Christians in Rome, Greece, and Asia Minor. A question for this community was: Could they be both Christians and good citizens of the empire in which they lived? Systems of ethical teachings circulated widely throughout Greco-Roman and Jewish societies during Jesus’ life and the first centuries of early Christian tradition. Luke’s theme of discipleship is clear and has Jesus going even beyond the ethical standards of the day. Both then and now, Jesus’ instructions about accumulating wealth and possessions and responding to hostility can sound weak or simple. However, when we dig deeper into what Jesus is teaching, there is nothing passive about his aggressive commitment to non-violence and his repudiation of using wealth and privilege as power over others.
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Christ’s message is one of forgiveness, pardon and generosity urging us to love others irrespective of whether or not we are loved in return. This gospel points to the necessity of having a forgiving heart as a basic essential for loving our enemies. A good take-away thought this moment is: do we pray for those responsible for causing suffering, inflicting hardship and bringing unhappiness in our lives? When we offer pardon and show forgiveness we rise to the level of Christ. The challenge is to decide whether hatred or love is the main motivating factor in our lives. Love of a neighbor is always the distinguishing mark of a Christian. (Desmond Knowles)
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“If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23,24)
Let us pray.
God of the nations, desire of every heart, teach us to pray in the true spirit of our loving Savior. It is easy for us to ask your blessings on friends and family, but there is nothing easy in praying for our enemies. Help us now to search our hearts and to name each one who is separated from us by an old grudge or recent offense. We ask you to work for good even among those who work against our good. Teach us to pray as Christ prayed, to live as Christ lived, to love our enemies as deeply as Christ loved his. Amen.**
