Sunday, January 21, 2007
It's been awhile since I last posted on this blog
But as I look at the world, and the gathering darkness of hate and anger and self-indulgence, I am constantly haunted by a passage from the Gospel of Luke:
"But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again.
"And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.
"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."
Luke 6:27-36, RSV
The quandry to me is how to be merciful in a world where we are surrounded by those who would kill us? How to be kind, while keeping oneself from the knife at the neck? How to pray for those who hate you, even as they plan to tear down all you believe is good.
Jesus never said it would be easy. I'm going to spend some time contemplating this quandry, and looking for solutions.
"But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again.
"And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.
"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."
Luke 6:27-36, RSV
The quandry to me is how to be merciful in a world where we are surrounded by those who would kill us? How to be kind, while keeping oneself from the knife at the neck? How to pray for those who hate you, even as they plan to tear down all you believe is good.
Jesus never said it would be easy. I'm going to spend some time contemplating this quandry, and looking for solutions.
Labels: Contemplations on Mercy
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