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February 23, 2014
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
I was searching today's Gospel for a suitable tract for my homily...and then I read
verse 48 in the modern translation, "The Message", which for me hits today's
issues right on target.
Jesus said "In a word what I am saying is grow up. You are subjects of the
Kingdom. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and
graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you".
A Welsh Vicar was giving a sermon based on today’s Gospel.
“Now,” he says to the congregation, “I’ll bet that many of us feel as if we have
enemies in our lives. So raise your hands if you have many enemies.” Quite a
few people raised their hands. “Now raise your hands if you have only a few
enemies.” And about half as many people raise their hands. “Now raise your
hands if you have only one or two enemies.” And even fewer people raised their
hands.
“See,” he says, “most of us feel like we have enemies. Now raise your hands if
you have no enemies at all.” The vicar looked around and finally, way in the back
an old man raises his hand.
He stands up and says to the vicar, “I have no enemies whatsoever!” The vicar
invites the man to the front of the church. “What a blessing!” the pastor says.
“How old are you? “I’m 98 years old, and I have no enemies.”
The vicar says, “What a wonderful Christian life you have lead! Tell us how it is
that you have no enemies.”
The old man answered, “Well, he said, they have all died”.
Jesus declares, “But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer…” The word
translated “resist” in this context means “do not render evil for evil.”
Jesus is talking about revenge, not self-preservation. He is not telling us to be
weak and passive; He is telling us not to be vindictive.
Jesus wants us to ask the question, “If someone does something evil to me, how
may I respond with only good in return?” Obviously, this is a high standard to live
up to! Yet, Jesus style-discipleship is not for spiritual wimps!
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In the Gospel, Jesus provides illustrations of what it means to not retaliate
against an evil person. In His first illustration, Jesus says, “but if anyone strikes
you on the right cheek, turn the other also.”
This verse is often used to prohibit any form of self-defense. But is this really
Jesus’ intent? First of all, notice that Jesus specifically mentions “the right
cheek.” Approximately 90% of the people in the world are right-handed.
If a right-handed person punches you with his or her right hand, they will hit you
on the left cheek. If they try to hit you on the right cheek with their right fist, they
won’t hurt you one bit.
Jesus is not referring to a situation where another person is attempting to punch
your lights out. He is speaking of a slap across the right cheek with the back of
the right hand.
In Jesus’ day a slap to one’s face with the back of the hand was considered a
gross insult by the Jews, and was among the most demeaning acts one could
inflict on another person.
Also if a man struck you with the back of his hand instead of punching you in the
mouth, you would be entitled to twice the damages because an insult was worse
than an injury in Jesus’ honor-shame society. Even today, the Irish often say,
“The back of my hand to you,” which means, “You are scum.”
What Jesus is saying is this: When someone insults you, do not seek revenge.
You should not trade insults, even if it means you receive more; you must avoid
retaliation.
In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus is not describing a physical attack and telling us to
roll over and “play dead” as if it never happened. We should not allow our
children to be beaten up by bullies. Nor should we stand by and watch while an
innocent person be attacked. We should not let thieves, murderers, and terrorists
have their way in our society. When necessary, we should seek ways to protect
ourselves, our family members, and any other victims of injustice and cruelty.
During this long, cold, snowy winter Karen and I have watched more than our
share of Netflix on television. I think we have been very close to the diagnosis of
binge-viewing.
We have watched many of the well-known series, and some of the lesser known
series. "House of Cards", "Breaking Bad", "Damages", "Homeland". You name it
we probably have watched all or part of the series
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Let me be clear......... we have thoroughly enjoyed these series and there is not
much we can't tell you about the main characters, whether it be Walter White,
Nicholas Brody, Patty Hewes, Ellen Parsons, Francis and Claire Underwood.
The story lines have generally been credible.... and all of the series extremely
well acted. Many of the leads such as Bryan Cranston and Glenn Close have
received some of the entertainment industry's top awards.
There are some common themes that run through these series; they are themes
that feature in many forms of entertainment, and they are themes that clearly
attract enormous audiences in our culture.
These themes include..... revenge......one individual having power over
another......personal manipulation......hatred......violent acts particularly murder of
every type and situation you can imagine.....insulting behavior.
In today's Gospel, Jesus is not making suggestions for a good life. He is
commanding us to behave in a certain way.
Jesus declares: “I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you.” Love is not simply praised, it is commanded. He knows this
requires supernatural strength. It has been said, “To return evil for good is
devilish; to return good for good is human; to return good for evil is divine.”
Jesus does not say that we need to like our enemy or like what he or she does.
Rather, we are called to love that person. Love requires that we be concerned
about the welfare of even our enemies. This means that we will do things that will
benefit and not harm them.
How do we know if we really love our enemy? Do we pray for him or her?
Has it ever dawned on us that our greatest enemy and persecutor may be our
spouse, our child, our sibling, or our parent? The toughest of issues but we as
Christians must face them.
Finally how do we reconcile Jesus' commandments in today's Gospel with the
themes of entertainment that we, the world find so appealing?
I do not think there is an easy answer to this question. Literature has always
included images of the world the way it is. There appears to be some odd
fascination for us in the dark side of humanity, whether it be some of the
characters in Harry Potter, Fagin in Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, or Walter
White in Breaking Bad
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Maybe we create images in our minds as how not to behave, and a filter system
that helps us identify behavior that is contrary to our Christian values. I hope
so.......
What I do understand is that when we turn back to reality, in the real world, when
we love without limits, then we are truly like God............................ Amen.