Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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The beginning of 15 days Lent
Matthew 5:38-42
vs.39 “But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also”.

We live in an age of tit for tat and the so-called hate campaign. What looms every where is the language of hate and revenge. Even within the Church, we are not able to vindicate the claims we make for ourselves such as a community of faith that is called and set apart for a holy function in the world. Let us highlight two thoughts from the text.

  1. The futility of revenge
In the life and teachings of Jesus, we have both continuity and discontinuity with the Jewish tradition. For example, when Jesus says: “I have not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill”, its continuity. But when he says:” You have heard that it was said, “Love your friends and hate your enemies. But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you “(vs.43), its discontinuity. This ought to be the norm for our life and ministry in the Church. More than ever before, the world stands in need of this insight.
  1.  The language of Love.

During the Civil War in U.S, several of the blacks and whites were killed and wounded. Abraham Lincoln, the visionary President at that time had a tough time dealing with the communal avalanche. Once he made it a point to visit the victims and the wounded. First he visited the blacks who were in a separate wing. Then he was moving on to the place where the whites were admitted. A black activist tried to stop Lincoln by saying,”Don’t go there. They are our enemies.”Lincoln responded:”I am trying to destroy my enemies by loving them”! Then he visited the whites who were equally wounded. New Testament scholars tell us that the Greek word ”Agape”, that is translated as “Love” in the New Testament is used as a verb.(Jn.3:16) In other words, love is not just an emotion or an attitude; it has to be manifested in our deeds.
In our times, the last words of George Floyd, the black man who was brutally crushed to death by a Police officer reverberates in the air:”I cannot breathe”. It is commendable that the Police chief in Houston apologized to the public for the atrocity from his corps. Yes, we need such people who dare to be different in their actions and options.

PRAYER
Lord, teach us to internalize and manifest your love. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Does our love go beyond our family and Church?

Rev. Dr. K. A Abraham, Thiruvalla 

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