Thursday of 23rd
Week, Year II: reflection
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Reading: Lk 6:27-38
Some videos of certain Christians wielding machetes
of different sizes, iron bars, clubs and other weapons of war at prayer sessions
and calling out their enemies circulated widely on Facebook few months ago. Those
Christians were responding ‘Amen’ and hitting their weapons on the floor
following the prayer call of their pastors that those they saw as the enemies
of their progress and those who didn’t want to help them materially/financially,
including wicked landlords, stingy uncles and relatives, wicked husbands and
wives, and ungenerous employers, should die.
After watching those embarrassing video clips
of what was considered as prayer sessions, I wondered if those Christians still
understood the teachings of the One through whom they were making their prayers,
especially His teaching regarding relationship with enemies.
It should also be noted that what was seen in
those video clips is just a tip of what goes on in many prayer houses and
ministries. Nowadays, any man/woman of God who does not command fire to destroy
enemies is not considered a true man/woman of God and will consequently have fewer
members. Every prayer is about calling God to destroy those suspected as
enemies.
Dear friends, one of the things that
distinguish Christianity from other religions is the quality known as grace.
Our God is gracious to both the good, the wicked and the ungrateful, and
commands us to show the same grace-filled attitude to others, treating them not
as we think they deserve, but as He would treat them, i.e., with love,
kindness, forgiveness, mercy and tolerance. It is this message that is central
in today’s gospel passage. Here, Jesus invited all who call upon His name to love
their enemies, do good to those who hate them, bless those who curse them and
pray for those who abuse them, for the measure they use for others will be the
measure God will use for them. As challenging as Jesus' commands are, He and
His disciples demonstrated how to carry them out.
Loving enemies doesn’t mean not seeking justice
against aggressors, but for Christians, it doesn’t include using the name of
Jesus or the Holy Ghost as a missile to destroy them. So, any Christian
gathering in which Jesus is called upon to kill our fellow human beings has
lost the grace-filled behavior commanded by Jesus, and true Christians will be
wary of identifying with such a gathering.
May your efforts this Thursday
be blessed, Amen
Fr Isaac Chima
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