“Not at all what we’d expect”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Luke 6:27-38 (Forward, p. 16) CEV p. 1064
Talk about upsetting the applecart: here Jesus espouses an ethic that entirely goes against the patterns of behaviour expected in our world. After all, our world expects people not to wimp out but rather, to stick up for themselves, defend their dignity, and stand up for their rights. However, Jesus is promoting something totally different.
-we are to love our enemies, to will and to work for what is best for
them, to do good to them.
-we are to ask God to bless those who curse us and pray for those
who are cruel to us.
-we are to turn the other cheek and not without even our shirt from
someone who wants to take it from us.
-we are to give, not just lend, to others without the expectation of any
return.
-we are to desist on passing judgment or condemning or being hard
on others.
All in all, we are to treat others just as we wish to be treated.
So, what is the rationale for all this seemingly doormat behaviour? There are two things actually:
-firstly, the way we treat others will be exactly how we are treated.
-and secondly, and more importantly, this is how God behaves. God
isn’t nice just to the deserving, just to the good people of this world,
but to everyone. He pours out His blessings and abundance on
everyone, and so, should we as His children.
And, of course, we see this ‘in spades’, in glowing colour, in Jesus.
Jesus gave Himself, suffered and died, for everyone regardless of
merit or deserving.
And so, this is our calling: to be like God our Father, to be like Jesus. Now, obviously, this is an enormous and intensely difficult challenge, one that we could never hope or aspire to do in our own strength. Thankfully, we have God’s Spirit within us to guide and empower us in this. Thanks be to God.
Forward notes: “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return” (verse 35a).
“This command is deeply humbling. It is humbling because I struggle with it even though I am privileged not to have any enemies—at least in the comic book sense. There are people with whom I disagree and people with whom I commonly come into conflict or find infuriating, but there is no one, at least that I am aware of, who is my enemy.
“The people I struggle to pray for are mere frustrations. They don’t wish me or my loved ones harm; they aren’t working or conspiring against me. And yet, even in this situation, I find that I get in my own way. I struggle to pray for those with whom I am at odds.”
Moving Forward: “In your prayers, think of two or three people with whom you often disagree. Commit to praying for them by name each day this week.”