Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

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 

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more