Could You please repeat that, Lord?

Labor Day was the “traditional” end of Summer.  In about two weeks it will “officially” be Autumn.  I love the change of seasons.  It’s the only change I can think of that I love.  I’m pretty much a stick in the mud, and I always have been.  I don’t like change.  I sometimes can envision myself as the little Dutch boy with his finger in the dike, trying to hold back the flood of change.

Which is why, after reading Luke’s gospel today (Luke 6:27-38), I imagine being one of the disciples listening to Christ.  My friends and I have been following Jesus for some time now.  We know He’s special.  And then He lays this on us?   Love our enemy?  Bless those who curse us?  Turn the other cheek?  Give to people who won’t pay us back?  What?  We must have heard Jesus wrong.  We ask Him, “Could you please repeat that?”  This is so contrary to what we’re used to.  It is the complete opposite of what the world teaches.  These are not easy lessons to accept!

One thing that these powerful lessons teach us is that there’s something far more important in life than the humiliation of being struck on the cheek and having our possessions stolen. What is that more important thing?  It’s the salvation of souls.

If we were to go through life demanding earthly justice and retribution for wrongs received, we wouldn’t be able to focus upon that which is most important.  We wouldn’t be able to focus upon the salvation of those who have wronged us.  It’s easy to love those who are kind to us.  But our love must extend to everyone, and sometimes the form of love we must offer another is the free acceptance of injustices they commit against us.  There’s great power in this act of love.  But we’ll only be able to love another this way if our deep desire is for their eternal salvation.  If all we want is earthly justice and satisfaction for wrongs committed, we may achieve that.  But it may come at the expense of their salvation, and ours.

Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that every wrong must be righted here and now.  But that’s clearly not what Jesus taught.  His wisdom is so much deeper.  He knew that a profound act of mercy and forgiveness to another, especially when they’ve hurt us deeply, is one of the greatest gifts we can give.  And it’s one of the most transformative actions we can also do for our own souls.  When love hurts, in the sense that it costs us our earthly pride, especially by completely letting go of injustice, then our act of love for that person has great power to change them.  And if that act changes them, then this will be the cause of our joy for eternity.