Readings:
First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2; 9 - 18
Psalm: 119:33 - 40
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10 - 11; 16 - 23
Gospel: Matthew 5:38 - 48
Our readings and the divine teachings that they impart, are as relevant today as they were when they were written. The book of Leviticus and the gospel of Matthew were written approximately 7 or 8 centuries apart. While written in different contexts and times, both readings contain the same profound message - that we are to love our neighbour as ourselves. The original message was that we should love our neighbour as an element of ourselves.
How do we fulfil this divine command? What does this actually mean to us as Christians?
Today - throughout the world - we hear and read that certain people or sectors of society are worthless. That people are stupid, not thin enough, wear the wrong clothes, are lazy, ugly, bad or are of the wrong faith. The implication of this is that these people need to conform to secular norms - in order to fit in and thus be accepted and respected. This, sadly, is a divisive, harmful and judgemental opinion driven from a power-hungry base where success, wealth, status and your social popularity are an apparent benchmark of personal value.
Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump has publicly slandered, belittled and condemned people he does not personally know. He is currently putting structures in place to build a wall between Mexico and the States as well as attempting to ban people who originate from certain countries from entering America. His attitude is one of ‘them and us’. The bad guys and the good guys. We are also being bombarded with appalling stories of human misery, abuse and violence against our fellow human beings. Our hearts are numbed and bleed through this overload of bad news and evil that is happening throughout the world today.
This is not of God and how He calls us to live in communion and communication with one another as members of His family. God, our creator, says in truth and grace to all who would listen, ‘You are my beloved’. God loves each and every person regardless of age, sex, race, religious beliefs or context. God, our beloved parent loves us all unconditionally - even when we go astray, fall or make mistakes. The late Henri Nouwen stated, “How wonderful it is to believe that we were loved before we were born and will be loved after we have died. God has loved us long before we could give love to anyone and the love we express today, is part of a greater love.”
As Christians, our life is a gift to be shared. We are called to love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action in fellowship with others. Agape love is not the love we have for our husbands and wives, our extended family, pets and friends. It is a divine love - an active love – that, through our ever-deepening spiritual formation, flows from within. This love flows into our daily lives and relationships where we begin to see all life through the eyes of Jesus and hear with a new ear. This love embraces and reflects every distinctive attribute of our triune God. Agape love is one of self-emptying and self-giving to all of God’s creation. It requires us to move beyond selfishness and be imitators of Christ.
Thomas Keating in his book ‘The Mystery of Christ’ says that “we are called to love people - not only in their hidden beauty as members of Christ - but in their concreteness and individuality; that is, their personality traits, idiosyncrasies and opinions which we may find irritating or unbearable. This requires us to let go and dismantle our false selves. To break down our demands for security and survival, affection and esteem, power and control. To be open to God with a willingness and flexibility to adjust to circumstances and let go of our plans in favour of the inspiration that come from the Holy Spirit who guides us”.
It requires a willingness on our part to put God first; to endure and embrace our life’s journey as we mature in faith; to accept situations for what they are - and work to improve them. We are required to free ourselves from all our attachments and to grow a non-possessive attitude where everything is experienced as a gift from God.
In and through this divine love, we learn to have respect for others and know what is truly valuable. We are able to be generous and thoughtful and go the extra mile. We can intervene and help those in trouble and need. We are able to be honest and caring, not hold grudges or seek revenge against others but yield to God’s grace. We are called to love our enemies which has the potential to bring out the best in us as we pray for them. If we do not like what people are saying or doing, we are called to bring our concerns out into the open with them directly rather than gossip behind their backs. This is how God calls us to regard, relate and behave towards others.
However, the ultimate goal of loving our neighbour is not for them to think that we are wonderful and nice people - but for them to come to the realisation and truth that God exists. That our triune God works in us and through us - where we reflect His light in relational love, grace, truth, wisdom and compassion. This allows our neighbours to open themselves to wanting to have the same intimate relationship with our divine parent who is love.
AMEN
Jenny Tuckett
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