Romans 12:19-21
As we have seen before, St Paul builds on Jesus’ principle and gives practical guidance to inform lifestyle choices.
To understand correctly what Jesus was driving at in the Sermon on the Mount, we need to remember what he was opposed to: the egotism and ambition that lies at the root of evil. Jesus own approach was the very opposite. Lucifer, as we saw a few days ago, wanted to be like God; Jesus was God and was prepared to give up the privileges of being God in order to become a man. St Paul described it like this in Philippians 2.
Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross…How quick are we to stand on our rights? To respond to challenges out of pride, in ways that enflame situations? Do we act tough, issuing our own challenges that in past ages would have ended in fatal duels? Rather than react from our egos, Jesus advocated surrendering our rights in order to maintain our commitment to doing good and let God himself deal with any injustice. Do we therefore allow tempers to cool and make time for proper analysis? Do we seek to be innovative, to act creatively and ingeniously in doing what is right?
We do not use the word ‘enemy’ so routinely today: we prefer words like competitor or rival. By telling us to love these people, Jesus was implying the companies we ‘battle’ for contracts and market share, the unscrupulous colleagues pursuing the same promotions and bonuses we are and the neighbours who persistently spoil our quality of life with loud music, extravagant building plans or some other inconsiderate behaviour.
But does Jesus’ way have financial consequences we are prepared to tolerate?
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