Psalm
55. 12-13 It is not an enemy who taunts
me – then I could bear it – but it is you…my familiar friend.
Remember
that time when everyone stopped talking the moment they saw you? Then you
passed them, and someone murmured behind your back, and everyone laughed?
That’s
when you turned on them, stretched out your hands, and said, “Lord! Show them
Your righteous power!” You laughed as invisible fingers choked them, and the
one who cracked the joke swelled up like a balloon and floated away.
Maybe
your inner adolescent’s fantasies are less Harry Potter and more Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington, so you picture yourself saying righteous things
that teach those hypocrites a lesson.
We
all have felt betrayed by friends, and I imagine that I’m not the only one at St.
James’ to have fantasies of revenge. In fact, the readings today are full of
such fantasies. The psalmist calls for the ground to open up and swallow his
enemy; Matthew tells how Jesus will get even with the bad ones. Revelation
cheers first-century Christians with the vision of four horsemen who will
torment their oppressors.
Indulging
such self-righteous fantasies is always fun, for a little while, and always a
mistake. They get my heart rate up and fill me with adrenaline, as much as a
real confrontation would do. They increase the resentment and add to the
loathing I feel. But Jesus commands us, “Love your enemies,” and he tells us
that to hate is the same as to murder.
Let’s
return to the scene imagined at the head of this meditation. When everyone’s
laughing, the victim can do little to save face. But imagine if someone in the
crowd steps forward, gently chides the others, and starts a
friendly conversation with the hurt one.
I
like to think that we at St. James' bring our own church’s wise,
un-self-righteous, moderating spirit to situations like this. I like to think that
we impress others by how we diffuse cliques and deflect gossip.
In
this season of office parties and family gatherings, let us go in peace to love
and serve the Lord!
Other readings assigned for the day: Psalm
55. . .138,139.1-17(18-23). . .Zech. 8.9-17. . .Rev. 6.1-17. . .Matt. 25.31-46
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