Reflections on the Readings
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 20, 2011 - Year A
By Dennis S. Hankins
But I say to you, "Offer no resistance to one who is evil." - Jesus
Tit for Tat
Jesus speaks for our good; for the good of all, asking us to look higher, real high. He asks, "Do you see that sun shine, my friends?" Those around him look up and shield their eyes from the obvious. "Well, my Father, your Father, sends it down, every invigorating ray, upon everybody, the good and the bad." Continuing he says, "And when it rains, your Father lets the refreshing, life-giving rains bless the just and the unjust as well."
Ever since Cain murdered his brother, Abel, human relationships have suffered from injustices, real and imagined. Retaliation was out of bounds for Cain, and it is so to this very day. Jesus shows us another way. In our hearts we hear Jesus telling us to put our sword away; the blood rushing to judgement in our veins urges vengeance. "He can't do that to me!" we contest. But no matter how it's sliced, in the end we lose another eye; another tooth falls out. Before you know it, the temptation to make the world toothless and blind takes on a life all of its own; much like the famous back-country deadly feuding between the Hatfields and the McCoys.
In the days of Jesus and his disciples, the nasty Romans could conscript Jews into temporary service. This is what happened when Simon the Cyrene was forced to carry Jesus' cross. In this political environment, where frivolous lawsuits took place, Jesus taught how to overcome evil with good.
The message of Jesus is one of liberality and generosity. Some may press upon us unduly, while others may not notice our talents or our contributions. Nonetheless, we live in a world that crucified the Lord of glory. And all that is common to the experience of life is our portion; it all belongs to us: the faith of the apostles, the world, life and death, the present and the future; all of it is ours, and we belong to Christ, and Christ is the Father's only begotten Son.(I Cor. 3:22) And when it comes to the malevolence of evil men, we remember Jesus was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.(Isaiah 53:7)
Jesus teaches us that the neighborhood is not just the folks we like. Our prayers are now for all; love your neighbor and your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. How? And better yet, why? Children of God imitate the attitude of God. In that, we remember he does not discriminate on who gets the sun shine or the rain. All of it comes down from the Father of mercies upon those who love him and upon those who are blind to his benevolence. The reach of the gospel and the Christian way reflects this attitude of our Father. Some may only scratch the back of the one who scratches theirs. But we scratch everyone's back.
We rightly lament the hatred that is promoted as a way to live. Angry words, words that hurt, are hurled in a manner resembling an AK-47. What comes next is Armageddon; in the home, at the job, or in the community; sometimes at Church. Excruciating pain is inflicted upon those nearest us, all because we don't remember that God, who with every moment of our existence, upholds us by the word of his power, and out of his treasury supports us with breath and life and sunlight. He loves us perfectly, and he invites us into his perfect love to there rid ourselves of the fears within. Within the divine law of love, there is a peace that is indefinable, a place of eternal rest, a rest Jesus promised to all who would follow him. Let's trade our tit for tat for some of that! Amen.
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