Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 16

 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also, and if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well, and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.  Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you."

                                                                    Matthew 5:38-42 (NRSVue)

This passage is contextual to a people who live in a country occupied by a foreign power.  If you were struck on your right cheek, you have likely been backhanded which is how a person would treat a slave.  By turning your cheek to the left, you would force the person to strike you as an equal.  You may be bruised but you retain more of your dignity.

In giving a shirt and cloak, this may refer to Exodus 22:26-27 which states:   

If you take your neighbor’s cloak as guarantee, you shall restore it before the sun goes down, for it may be your neighbor’s only clothing to use as a cover. In what else shall that person sleep? And when your neighbor cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate.

So if a person was extracting your shirt from you to pay a debt, and you began to strip off your cloak as well, this was supposed to be returned to them by sundown.  If you started removing your clothes in public, this could actually be humiliating to the person seeking your shirt.  They would be seen as merciless.

And finally, a Roman soldier could force a Jewish person to carry their pack for a mile.  By going the extra mile, one could reassert their power in the relationship.

These kinds of tactics were acts of nonviolent resistance and utilized by peaceful movements like that of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.  King once stated, "If we do an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, we will be a blind and toothless nation.”

Gandhi has often been credited with saying, "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."

If we employ nonviolent resistance, this allows for the retention of our self-respect where there is a power differential.  When we can show the enemy that they have no power over us, this may also help remove any resentment we may feel toward that person.

As we move through Lent, where do you find resentment toward others in your life?  How can you employ tactics that will restore your relationship to a more even footing?  How can you remove the resentment you may feel?

Prayer for the day: Benevolent God, there are times when we do feel that others are taking advantage of us.  To be honest, this gets under our skin and doesn't help us to feel kindly toward them.  Help us to retain our dignity without retaliating.  May we see that retaliation lowers us to a level that you would have us avoid.  Grant us the sense that you continue to walk with us even in our trials.  Amen.
 

Photo by Paulsasleepwalker via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 7

 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

                                                Matthew 5:9 (NRSVue)

 

When Jesus first uttered these words, it was in the midst of the Pax Romana or Roman Peace.  This term was not in use at the time of Jesus but the emperors did call themselves peacemakers.  Others may have called them this with the same sardonic tone that one today would call a handgun a peacemaker.  

It is also interesting to note that the emperors also called themselves "sons of God."

The Judeans also often referred to the anticipated messiah as the Son of God.   The messiah would be a war-maker, violently throwing off foreign rule.

Jesus begins to show that the messiah would be something different than expected.  Those who wage peace are the true heirs of God's blessing.  This kinship to God as God's children is shared not only by the messiah but also with those who pursue peace for the world and their lives.  The kinship Jesus establishes with those who are willing to act is later reflected in Matthew 12:50 when he states, "...whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

One could argue that the beatitudes are building on one another.  To be a peacemaker requires humility and a pure spirit.  It also requires mercy.

What if we imagined peacemaking as doing rescue work?

When Nelson Mandela led South Africa out of apartheid, he made a conscious effort not to fall into the trap of punishing those who were formerly in power.  This attempt at peacemaking required mercy on the part of those who were crying out for justice.  Peace meant a sacrifice in order to move forward.

As we see this on a larger scale, we can also see that the same conditions apply to a family system.  When we have been wronged, the pursuit of those crying for us to quickly make up may come too soon.  We may feel that some form of restitution (as an apology) is needed.  

What if it doesn't come?  

This is how relationships are cut-off.  In order to make the repair, it is often said that the injured must be the bigger person in the relationship. 

But many times our pride will not allow it.  And so we continue in strife or at least without that person in our lives.  

As we move through Lent, what would it take for you to step up as a peacemaker?  

We may find the blessing is in the release of our anger.  Jesus seems to indicate that this is how we remind ourselves who are really are: children of God. 

Prayer for the day: Ever-present Lord, you direct us to things that may seem too much for us.  We are merely human, after all.  We confess that we often nurture the harms done to us, even though they are not helpful to our spirits.  In these moments, being a peacemaker may seem impossible.  But we also believe that you do not leave us alone to this work.  Strengthen our resolve and let us see that we are large enough to repair relationships.  Remind us that with you, we are bigger than we could ever be as lone rangers.  We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, who calls disciples to share in the work.  Amen.

 

Photo by Chris Hunkeler via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 5

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."

                                     Matthew 5:7 (NRSVue)

 

The 23rd psalm is well known among the devout and is utilized at many funerals.  The psalm puts our trust in God and gives us assurance of God's preceding grace pursuing us throughout our lives.

The final verse begins, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..."

This is a statement of faith and something hoped for - an outcome that would be favorable to us.

It's easier to forgive when someone shows remorse.

But today's beatitude sees mercy as a consequence of our own actions.  It feels a bit like karma and is similar to what I lifted up recently in the Lord's Prayer about "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

A similar but negative thought from Job 4:8 has Eliphaz declaring, "As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same."

Paul later echoes this (after the Sermon on the Mount) in Galatians 6:7, "...you reap whatever you sow."  Paul goes on to a more positive take, bidding us not to grow weary of doing what is right.

What does it mean to cultivate a life of mercy?

How do we shape our own spirits when we seek to forgive? 

I've seen those who are more judgmental of others taking a harder fall when they eventually slip up (or their own failings become known).  Those who are more forgiving are judged with more tolerance.

This characteristic can become a discipline - the more we show mercy, the easier it becomes.  The reversal may also be true.

I'm reminded of the fable of the man visited by God and told that he would receive anything he asked for.  The only caveat would be that his neighbor, whom he despised, would receive a double portion of the request.  The man then told God, "Make me blind in one eye."

Bitterness does not sow life.  

As we move through Lent, is there anyone you can think of where you could see yourself having the same response as the man from the fable - even for a second?  In this moment, what would it look like to make an attempt in your heart at mercy?

Prayer for the day: Merciful God, I must confess that I often seek forgiveness for myself but do not always grant my neighbor the same regard.  I'm more satisfied with justice where they are concerned.  Give me eyes to see how they see and then grant me eyes to see how you see.  And only then, bring me back to my seat of judgment.  I pray these things in the name of Jesus who uttered from the cross, "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they are doing."  Amen.

 

Photo by Alex Beattie via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.