Sermon thoughts - 7th Sunday (Mt 5, 38-48)
Avoid resisting, but have enough patience in life:
We can so shorten the Gospel passage of this Sunday.
Resistance, particularly at the present, is not a strange term for us.
We are experiencing resistance in politics;
particularly in Egypt and Tunisia and some Arab countries.
This is a political face.
We can define resistance as a force that prevents or inhibits the movement of a body or a system.
In psychology, there are several explanations for resistance.
Sigmund Freud says: “Whatever interferes in the continuation of a work is, resistance.”
Even in normal life we have enough of that.
Then the resistance is a common phenomenon in everyday life.
If something is inappropriate to our taste, or is not up to our level, then we, yes, many of us, will resist:
It can be against the parents, or school, or against friends, against a political system or even against some settings of the church.
This takes place often as a word and deed.
Today's readings too assert this human side.
However, it doesn’t support them but instruct us to avoid this.
The Book of Leviticus - the third book in the Pentateuch - is designed as a history and guideline to liturgical services and is closely related to the other four books of Moses, the Torah: But it never says that one should hate his enemy. There is no such reference in the original rules of the Jews.
On the contrary, as we heard in the first reading, it teaches to love others as themselves, or literally, “You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart” (Lev. 19, 17)
But how does Jesus comes to the statement in the Gospel:
“You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” (Mt 5, 43)
Many Bible experts believe that it as a later addition of some learned Jews.
But many experience say: the revenge can makes someone your enemy, but he triumphs over him with patience. It is clear, if we use our time to criticize others, then we may have no time to love them.
“An eye for an eye would make the whole world blind.” says Mahatma Gandhi.
Therefore, our way should be that of forgiving and forgetting.
We must have Patience:
with others, of course;
but to have patience with oneself is most important.
We know it is certainly not an easy way to live. Patience requires a lot of strength in life. It is a fight “against me” and of course against the “customs of the world” or “my environment”.
But the in the end we may feel patience is much better and more valuable than the revenge and resistance.
This does not mean that we should respond at all, even if it appears wrong. No, sometimes we have to grant it. Even Jesus didn’t show his other cheek to his persecutors. It is important that it should not be against a “person”.
We believe: Jesus will set us free. He freed us by his gospel, his heartfelt message to people. He wants us to be perfect;
be perfect as his Heavenly Father.
We know our Heavenly Father is patient with us. We too should be so and live in patience and love with fellow human beings, we show that are the children of God.
“Patience is power, with time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes silk." This is a Chinese proverb.
May God the Father give us a heart that forgives and loves. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
Avoid resisting, but have enough patience in life:
We can so shorten the Gospel passage of this Sunday.
Resistance, particularly at the present, is not a strange term for us.
We are experiencing resistance in politics;
particularly in Egypt and Tunisia and some Arab countries.
This is a political face.
We can define resistance as a force that prevents or inhibits the movement of a body or a system.
In psychology, there are several explanations for resistance.
Sigmund Freud says: “Whatever interferes in the continuation of a work is, resistance.”
Even in normal life we have enough of that.
Then the resistance is a common phenomenon in everyday life.
If something is inappropriate to our taste, or is not up to our level, then we, yes, many of us, will resist:
It can be against the parents, or school, or against friends, against a political system or even against some settings of the church.
This takes place often as a word and deed.
Today's readings too assert this human side.
However, it doesn’t support them but instruct us to avoid this.
The Book of Leviticus - the third book in the Pentateuch - is designed as a history and guideline to liturgical services and is closely related to the other four books of Moses, the Torah: But it never says that one should hate his enemy. There is no such reference in the original rules of the Jews.
On the contrary, as we heard in the first reading, it teaches to love others as themselves, or literally, “You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart” (Lev. 19, 17)
But how does Jesus comes to the statement in the Gospel:
“You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” (Mt 5, 43)
Many Bible experts believe that it as a later addition of some learned Jews.
But many experience say: the revenge can makes someone your enemy, but he triumphs over him with patience. It is clear, if we use our time to criticize others, then we may have no time to love them.
“An eye for an eye would make the whole world blind.” says Mahatma Gandhi.
Therefore, our way should be that of forgiving and forgetting.
We must have Patience:
with others, of course;
but to have patience with oneself is most important.
We know it is certainly not an easy way to live. Patience requires a lot of strength in life. It is a fight “against me” and of course against the “customs of the world” or “my environment”.
But the in the end we may feel patience is much better and more valuable than the revenge and resistance.
This does not mean that we should respond at all, even if it appears wrong. No, sometimes we have to grant it. Even Jesus didn’t show his other cheek to his persecutors. It is important that it should not be against a “person”.
We believe: Jesus will set us free. He freed us by his gospel, his heartfelt message to people. He wants us to be perfect;
be perfect as his Heavenly Father.
We know our Heavenly Father is patient with us. We too should be so and live in patience and love with fellow human beings, we show that are the children of God.
“Patience is power, with time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes silk." This is a Chinese proverb.
May God the Father give us a heart that forgives and loves. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
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