13-Feb-2011 Dear Friend,
We all know it is easy to be nice and kind to those who are kind to us. We are really put to the test when people are nasty and hurt us. We then feel it is right and just to retaliate, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. It’s the law of the jungle we follow –animals do that! But as human beings, as people of faith, we are challenged to be good, to forgive those who hurt us. It is said, only a strong person can forgive! To be responsible, is not to react but to respond as I choose towards another. Forgiveness reveals the depth of our love. Have a grateful weekend celebrating His and your forgiveness! Fr. Jude Sunday Reflections: Seventh Sunday of the Year –‘Love your enemies and forgive them’ 20-Feb-2011 Leviticus 19: 1-2, 17-18; I Corinthians 3: 16-23; Matthew 5: 38-48; The first reading from the Book of Leviticus has God instructing Moses to tell the people of Israel, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” The Book also spells out what it means to be holy. It lists several things we should not do if we are to be holy, and then the essential commandment: we are to love our neighbour as ourselves. We imitate the holiness of God when we refuse to exact revenge or bear a grudge against another. A Better Way Mandela spent over twenty-seven years in South African prisons. When he was finally released, he had every reason to feel bitter, and to come out vowing to get revenge on those who unjustly deprived him of his freedom. Instead, he came out smiling, and seeking reconciliation with the leaders of the regime that had put him in prison. Thus he became the cornerstone of a new South Africa. If he had harboured bitterness, who knows what would have happened? In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, he tells us: “I knew that people expected me to harbour anger against whites. But I had none. In prison, my anger towards whites decreased, but my hatred for the system grew. I wanted South Africa to see that I loved even my enemies while I hated the system that turned us against one another. I saw my mission as one of preaching reconciliation, of healing the old wounds and building a new South Africa.” Flor McCarthy in ‘Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies’ Matthew’s Gospel reminds us that what differentiates the disciples of Christ from others is their willingness to love as God loves. While the Book of Leviticus pointed out the demands of the Law, and spelt out the behaviour of the Israelites towards fellow Jews, Jesus will broaden the expected behaviour to include everyone, Gentiles as well as Jews, enemies as well as friends. We are challenged to act as God acts. He shows equal love towards the good and the bad, the faithful and the unfaithful because his love is not dependant on our response to Him. Jesus invites his followers to go beyond the demands of the Jewish law. “You have heard that it was said, ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ but I say to you offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, offer the other as well.” When Jesus says, “Offer the evil man no resistance” he is not telling us to be passive in the face of physical danger or abuse. He is rejecting retaliation of any kind. We are not allowed to have hatred in our hearts for anything, even our enemies. When Jesus talks about an ‘enemy’ he is not necessarily referring to an enemy in war. He is talking about someone who is close to me –someone in my family, my community, my neighbourhood, my workplace, who is making life difficult for me. The enemy can arouse hatred in us, but we have to rise above it. “Love your enemy” is a radical doctrine, a rejection of violence. Returning love for hatred is one of the most difficult things in the world. It seems to be humanly impossible to do so. Yet, with the grace of God and the strength of his spirit it can be done. The God who challenges us to do so also gives us the courage and strength to do so. God’s Living Word “In all negotiations, the talented, the strong, the entrenched, the hard-working argue that they deserve more because of their contributions to the world around them. On the other hand, the poor, the less able, the unemployed can only highlight their needs. The latter’s case may not be heard but it is irrefutable. Every human person needs food, shelter, clothing, health care and the opportunity to live with dignity. Needs are always more important than desserts. We are stewards of our talents, not owners. Our strengths must flower in gentleness. Fortunately God always gives us what we need rather than what we deserve. We need his merciful forgiveness for our failure to live with an appreciation that all good things are his gifts to all humankind. His forgiveness is given to all whether we deserve it or not. Today’s gospel invites us to follow that example, to be always first movers in forgiveness, to be generous beyond measure in being reconciled to the one who has wronged us. Only God can help us to do so daily. He will.” Tom Clancy in ‘Living the Word’ On Not Retaliating Oskar Schindler was a German industrialist. During the Second World War he set up a factory in Poland. He saved over a thousand Jews by giving them work in his factory. When the Germans surrendered at the end of the war, Schindler abandoned the factory and escaped westwards to avoid the Russians who were approaching from the east. Meanwhile the liberated workers waited in the factory for the arrival of the Russians. While they waited, they found a German officer by the name of Amon bunkered inside the factory. Amon had been responsible for several brutal killings. A group of men dragged him out and enthusiastically and mercilessly hanged him. Some inmates tried to intervene, but the executioners were in such a rage that they could not be stopped. This was the first homicide of the peace. It was an event which would be abhorred forever by those who witnessed it. The handing of Amon sickened them as profoundly as any of the executions Amon himself had carried out. After all, Amon was a Nazi, and beyond altering, But these hangmen were their own brothers. Instead of reaping satisfaction from it, all it did was sadden and depress them. Flor McCarthy in ‘Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies’ Hatred is Like Poison Two farmers, John and Tames, were good friends until a dispute arose between them over a piece of land. Unable to settle the issue among themselves, they went to court over it. The court decided in favour of John. James was bitter, and put poison in John’s well, not a fatal dose, but enough to give it an obnoxious taste. John was very angry. His neighbours heard about it. Some refused to get involved. But others were supportive and declared that James should be made to pay for what he had done. John was about to go by night and poison James’ well when a stranger arrived at his house. On hearing the story the stranger agreed that it was a pretty nasty situation, but he wouldn’t agree with retaliation. ‘Poison is not a thing to play around with”, he declared. “I’ve a better idea. I’ll show you in the morning.’ His idea was to clean out the well. He offered to help. Reluctantly John agreed. It was a messy business and took them two whole days. Then they ran the fresh water, drank it, and declared that it was clean, John also drank from the well, but insisted that he could still taste the poison. To which the stranger replied, ‘Take it from me, the water is perfect. But you will continue to taste the poison until you do one more thing.’ ‘What’s that?’ asked John earnestly. ‘You must forgive your neighbour. You have got rid of the poison from the well, but not the poison that lodges in your mind and heart. Not until you let go of your bitterness, and forgive your brother, will the water taste right.’ That evening John went over to his neighbour and made peace with him. When he came back he tasted the water again. This time it tasted good. Flor McCarthy in ‘Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies’ Kindness Brings Blessings A response of kindness towards one who wrongs us helps not only us but also the other person. Bruce Larson tells a humorous story on himself that illustrates the point. One evening during the rush hour, he was running to get in line for a bus. Suddenly a large woman shoved in ahead of him. She almost knocked him to the ground. In mock apology Larson said to her, “Pardon me! I didn’t mean to smash into you like that.” The woman’s reaction to Larson’s insincere remark was amazing. She really thought he meant it. Her face did a double take, and all her wrinkles changed position. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “How can you be so kind to me after I was so terribly rude to you?” Now it was Larson’s turn to be confused. He didn’t know what to say. The woman had responded to his counterfeit kindness as if it were real. And for the moment, at least, she was transformed. Larson gathered his wits enough to mumble something like, “It doesn’t hurt to be nice to people,” Afterward, riding home on the bus, Larson felt humiliated and embarrassed by his pettiness and insincerity. “Lord,” he prayed silently, “What are you trying to teach me?” And the answer came back, “Bruce, I have been trying to tell you, and for centuries people like you that love will always release a chain reaction of love.” Mark Link in “Sunday Homilies’ You are Forgiven The Caliph Hassan, successor to Mohammed, was one day at table when a slave accidentally dropped a dish of meat severely burning the Caliph. Frightened for his life, the slave fell on his knees before his Lord and repeated these words of their spiritual book, “Paradise is for those who control their anger.” “I am not angry with you,” replied the Caliph. “And for those who forgive offences,” the slave went on. “I forgive you,” added the Caliph. “But above all for those who return good for evil,” said the slave. To this the Caliph declared, “I set you at liberty and give you ten gold coins.” J. Maurus in ‘A Source Book of Inspiration’ How to Forgive A cholera epidemic broke out in Paris during 1832. Sister Marie, a Sister of Charity was going to the hospital one day when she was rudely insulted by a workman: he followed her shouting bad language, and would have struck her if not prevented by the bystanders, but she went quietly on her way. A few days later a new patient was brought to the hospital, already crowded with hundreds, with deaths every minute. “No room – not even for one more!” said the officials at the door. The new patient was being turned away when Sister Marie happened to pass and recognized him; it was the man who had insulted her. “Oh don’t send him away! I will find a corner for him somewhere – I will look after him myself!” He was taken in, and the Sister tended him unceasingly, in addition to all her other patients. He did not recognize the Sister as one of those he had insulted, for he had insulted so many. On the eight day he was out of danger, but found a new nurse looking after him. “Where is Sister Marie? He asked. The hospital staff said to him: She caught the cholera herself and died during the night.” – Can you find a better example than this to practice the exalted principle ‘love your enemies?’ Dr. G. Francis Xavier in ‘The World’s Best Inspiring Stories’ May we be ready to forgive and pardon those who have hurt us! Fr. Jude Botelho [email protected] PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in these reflections. These reflections are also available on my web site www.netforlife.net Thank you.
