First Reading: 1 Sam 26:2.7-9.12-13.22-23; Psalm: 103. R. v. 8a; Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:45-49; Gospel: Lk 6:27-38

IS CHRIST COMMANDING THE IMPOSSIBLE?

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP 

If being a Christian is challenging, the gospel of today is one of the reasons. There is no gospel so difficult to preach on than this very gospel. It is as though Christ is commanding us to do the impossible. To go against the natural instinct to defend ourselves, resist oppression and protect our possessions by all rightful means possible. Anyone who hates us and acts as such towards us ordinarily does not deserve love from us. When we are physically attacked, it is unreasonable to stand defenceless, and even more unreasonable to present ourselves for more assault. When our hard-earned possession is unjustly and forcefully taken away from us, it will be foolish to choose not to resist or act. So, how is what Christ is commanding possible?

First, Christ commands us to return hatred with love. To love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us. The difficulty in this command is not that Christ commanded it, but that there are instances that render this demand almost undoable. There are people who enjoy hurting and picking on others. They operate on the psychology: ‘hurt them over and over till you break them; till they act.’ These people will not stop till they see us feel pain. How can we love people with such cruel mentality?

Another, are those who intended to do the worse to us but only succeeded hurting us either physically or by our discovery of their intended evil plan which failed. The story of Saul and David in our first reading is an example. Saul was out to kill David out of jealousy with three thousand men. To think that a king he served and saved his kingdom from the threat of the Philistines would repay and betray him by seeking his life must have cut so deep in David. Yet David spared Saul when he had the chance to kill him. How David managed not to get even amid the vengeful voice of Abishai is nothing short of divine grace.

So, the answer to the first command of Christ is that it is impossible except by the grace of God. And so, we ask God for his grace to love our enemy.

To love an enemy does not demand an embrace of love but to rid our hearts of any hatred towards the enemy. And when God spares us from the evil plans of an enemy, we should return that kind gesture by forgiving our offenders. If for no reason, at least for the fact that God showed us mercy. Because were it not for God, it would have been worse. Were it not for God, Saul would have succeeded in taking the life of David.

Verse 29 of the gospel of today presents another challenge: “To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your cloak do not withhold your coat as well. To understand this verse, we must bear in mind that the immediate audience of Christ were Jews who suffered oppression from the Roman soldiers. These soldiers would beat and steal from the local populace to supplement their meagre income. Christ was saying that a passive response to their extortion and intimidation could shock the soldiers and inspire repentance. For if the people responded with violence, they would neither win nor go unharmed.

Ordinarily, this makes a lot of sense. It will be unreasonable to fight or resist someone who points a gun at us when we don’t have what it takes to defend ourselves or to overpower them. In this context, it is best to allow our oppressor to have his/her way. However, this does not mean we should not defend ourselves or protect our properties when we can. We can do so but not with the intention to destroy our oppressor or to expose ourselves to harm. The emphasis here is to try to avoid any form of violence or evil. If for example in our workplace our rights were infringed upon or what rightly are due to us are denied; Christ is saying that we should not resort to violence or fighting but seek justice and restoration in a constructive way possible. We should prioritise patience and non-violence in every possible solution we intend to follow.

But in reality, we must acknowledge that justice is sometimes denied when the poor and oppressed chooses to follow due process. The undue influence of the rich against the poor as it pertains to injustice is often what instigates the poor to resort to violence or take the law into their hands. Because they believe that threatening the life of their advantaged oppressors can offer them what the law cannot. And this brings to mind the gospel of last Sunday of which the gospel of today builds on. The rich must always remember that the “woe” pronounced on them by Christ is not a curse but an admonition to use their privileges justly and wisely to the benefit of all, else their wealth will be their ruin.

The most beautiful thing about today’s gospel is that Christ used the Golden Rule to cancel out the Law of Talion (the law of retaliation) which was prevalent in his time. Christ commands: “And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them” (v. 31). If we all followed this golden rule, our world will be a beautiful place. Christ reminds us today that hate, violence, extortion, intimidation, injustice, stinginess, and even making enemies could all be avoided if we honoured the golden rule. If we feel we cannot honour all that Christ commands us to do in the gospel of today; we can simply start by keeping the golden rule, and we will just be fine.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, we acknowledge that without your help we cannot do anything good. Help us by your grace to follow in your footsteps and be merciful just as you are merciful. Amen.