Perhaps your first thought when you hear the Gospel this weekend is: “I need to talk to my bank and find out if they are Christian-based. Then I will ask them if they believe in the Gospel. I will ask them if they really expected me to pay them back. Then I will show them the verse that reads ‘lend without expecting anything back’ and ask if that would apply to me.” You can try that, and all I can say is good luck!
When most of us hear the Gospel today, we are confused by Jesus’ message. Does he really mean that I should lend money to people without expecting to be repaid? Does he really mean I should just let people keep hitting me? Does he really mean I should give things to anyone who asks me? Does he really mean if someone steals from me, I should just let them get away with it? And, finally, do I really have to love my enemies, love those who are mean to me, who tease and make fun of me, who hate me?
I think of all those questions; the one that strikes us as the most difficult is the last one. How do I love my enemies, someone who has been mean to me, who has hurt me physically, spiritually, emotionally? That certainly doesn’t fit with our view of justice, of fairness and equality, of democracy. I agree; it doesn’t fit with how we think.
The difference is that God does not think like we do. Good thing. God’s world is not a democracy, which is why we cannot understand God’s plan. That is no doubt why the Pharisees had such a hard time accepting Jesus. Because His ways were so different from theirs.
If we think about Jesus’ message in the Gospel today only from an individual perspective, then it is hard to understand. If we think of his message as a universal truth, then it makes sense. If we all followed today’s Gospel, we would not have any enemies. Everyone would treat everyone else with love. We would make sure that everyone’s needs would be met. That is what Jesus came to teach us. That is the world, the life God wants for us because, by living that life now, we would all share in the eternal banquet.
So what do we need to do? Well, first, we can’t say “what can I do, I’m only one person?” Instead, we need to say, “I’ll do my part!” and always, Jesus gives us the place to start, when he says to us:
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
‘Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you.’”
We have to start somewhere. It might as well start with you.
Deacon Randy
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