Bible
Study: Colossians 3:12-17. / Luke 6:27-38.
What makes
a Christian different from any other human being on earth? In one word,
attitude! Life is not what happens to us, it is how we respond to the events
over which we have no control.
Hear how
Jesus makes a distinction between people he refers to as “sinners” and we who
are his audience. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do
good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if
you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.” Luke 6:32-34.
For us to
really say we are Christians, there must be something DIFFERENT about us;
something different about our attitude or response to people’s actions (for or
against us).We must go the extra mile; our goodness must go beyond the generally
acceptable standard. We cannot afford to be mediocre Christians.
The law of
nature demands that we only love those who love us. Isn’t it?. Life is pretty much
a game of give-and-take. We give so that we can receive and when the other
party stops giving in return, we also stop giving. If the other party gives
pain, we return with pain. Isn’t it?. But Jesus is saying, no, take a leap
ahead: LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. The love for one’s enemies is the litmus test of a
true Christian attitude to life.
Note that
Jesus did not say “Love sin.” He said, “Love your enemies.”
How can I love
a person that is bad, corrupt or sinful, how can I love a person that has offended
me and caused me so much pain?
Firstly, the
answer lies in Recognizing God in the person. If you can see God in him or her,
if you can accept the fact that despite what he or she is doing, he remains the
image and likeness of God, if you can just look beyond the mere flesh and blood
and see the soul of the person, which has perhaps become caged, you can love
the human being and hate the sin.
Secondly,
our first reading today from Paul’s letter to the Colossians says: “Put on
then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness,
meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and … forgiving each other; as
the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:12-13.
Do you
notice how St. Paul carefully selects his words? First he calls us HOLY people
meaning that we are set-apart, different, special. Then he goes on to say we
should put on COMPASSION meaning, we should “suffer-with” our enemies, we
should be able to let go and step out of our comfort zone on their behalf and
for the sake of their salvation. Also he mentions, KINDNESS; giving out our
time, resources and sacrifices for their good. LOWLINESS demands that we humble
ourselves to be able to listen to them and understand their own point of view
rather than believe we are better than them. MEEKNESS is the gentle approach we
should have and PATIENCE is the hope that someday, our enemies would change for
good.
The
opposite of patience is passing judgment, and Jesus in today’s Gospel says we
should not even judge or condemn people. “Judge not, and you will not be
judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be
forgiven.” Luke 6:37. The only way we can live without having enemies is by forgiving
them and forgiveness entails that we refrain from calling them enemies in the
first place.
Again, how
can I manage to put up with people without judging them?
The answer
lies in being THANKFUL. Thank God for everything! If you like what people do,
thank God for it but even if you don’t like it, still thank God that you now
know how NOT to behave towards others. Again St. Paul adds “let the peace of
Christ rule in your hearts… And be thankful. Colossians 3:15.
An
un-thankful heart is always judgmental, finds it difficult to appreciate people,
keeps record of evils, never forgives, expects the worst of people and such a
person is obviously permanently unhappy.
Let us
pray:
Lord
Jesus, give me the grace to imbibe the right attitude to life as to properly distinguish
myself from sinners and excel in the virtues you expect of me. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
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