Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 'A'

Saturday February 19, 2011

You have heard that it was said…

When news of tragedy hits from any corner of the globe, a plethora of volunteers emerge from near and far to join in a search and rescue mission. The dramatic rescue of the Chilean coal miners comes to mind as among the most noteworthy in recent years but comparisons are odious when it comes to saving human lives. There is an energy in the human heart that is able to overcome insurmountable obstacles—race, color or creed. We were all Chilean as we watched the rescue hour by hour as if a TV survival series except that this was real.

The miners stranded deep beneath the earth were as different from one another as we are from their countrymen and women. We tend to canonize them because of their courage but as stories unfolded after their release, we came to know them as flawed as all of us. But their personal life stories had no impact on the motivation of those who participated in the rescues mission. All were equal and none were unworthy of our indiscriminate attention. “Greater love than this no one has….”

This is but one of many dramatic examples of human solidarity that characterizes the love that is constantly and consistently promoted in both testaments – a love blind to differences and able to accept everyone involved in rescue efforts as sisters and brothers, neighbors’ to be sure.

But there is a different reality at home and abroad when it comes to the less dramatic interweaving of ordinary human conduct toward the common good and the demands of individual human rights.

Last week TV personality and former Republican senator, Chuck Scarborough defending his conservatism remarked about current political trends. “Why must we hate those with whom we disagree? Must we hate the president even if we disagree with his political philosophy” or words to that effect. We demonize our enemies to make it easier to conquer them whatever the forum.

I also watched as the president conferred the Medal of Freedom on fifteen noble Americans. They were all of very different ranks and personalities but all of them have demonstrated in their lives an extraordinary sense of concern for others. They were honored because they used their talents not just to feed their ego but to contribute in some way to the individual and common good of our nation and beyond. No, they are not perfect human beings; they are as flawed as you and me but they did not succumb to the temptation to live only for themselves.

Matthew’s dramatic presentation of Jesus’ rejection of the ancient Jewish ‘lex talionis’ – the law of retaliation: “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” is undoubtedly the most challenging of all Jesus’ teachings. I searched the commentaries for a way to soften the blow but there are none.

But are we to stand aside when an enemy attacks or when our life is threatened?

Jesus is espousing a demanding philosophy, a mindset that in the end will make the world a better place for all humanity. Are we all called to martyrdom? Some are, most of us are not. However, if we adopt a truly Christ-like attitude and disposition toward others, including our ‘enemies’ it certainly will over time have an impact on evolution of world events.

But what about Hitler and Osama ben Laden? And what about our armed forces who have given their lives for the liberation of the oppressed? And what about justice for the millions of abused children and vulnerable adults throughout the world?

I believe the key is not conceding to wrongdoing or to injustice of whatever kind but that we not succumb to vengeance or vindictiveness in the face of evil and that we do all we can to right wrongs without destroying our enemies and so curtail the endless cycle of violence. It’s a mindset that builds restraint but it does not diminish the heroism of those who have done their utmost to confront injustice even to the point of death. As one commentator suggested, Jesus is not teaching his disciples to let those who abuse others go unchallenged. He is suggesting rather that we not respond in kind and use every means possible to avoid destructive measures to the extent possible.

But there are less dramatic applications to Jesus’ teachings in our every day experiences at home and in our neighborhoods and surely in the political arena – and oh, yes, on talk radio!

In the words of one of my high school retreat masters: “In the end, we can only do our level best; the angels can do no more!” How true.

We give life our best shot and do all that we can with God’s grace to put on the mind and heart of Christ and God will do the rest.

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