6 March 2020 - how have I offended thee?

Today's Readings

(Audio)

You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment

We are called to a peace with one another that goes deeper than the lack of overt aggression that characterizes peace in the world. Some of us would prefer to avoid challenging situations entirely.  Yet the call to peace is not a call to self-isolation. Some of us are good at putting on a good face and smiling even when we feel wronged but still all the while feeling anger entertaining thoughts inspired but that anger.

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift

We are called to pursue peace with one another even if we aren't the one who has the problem. We must be active in seeking peace. It is only in this way that way can overcome the tendency to avoid all challenging situations for fear of conflict. Only by actively seeking peace can we cut off anger inspired thoughts at their source.

It makes sense that we are called to actively seek peace. God first actively sought peace with us while we were yet sinners. He won our hearts will they were still distant from him. He opened himself to the charges that we, his future brothers and sisters, might have against him, even though there could be no basis for them.

My people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!I led you out of Egypt, from slavery to freedom, but you led your Saviour to the cross.

- From the Improperia, often used in the Good Friday liturgy

If the cross shows us the kind of active love to which we are called we should realize how utterly unable we are to live it without the help of grace. The cross is different from simply letting ourselves be doormats for those who would abuse us. It is an active love that, while surrendering, transforms the anger leveled against us into love reciprocated. It is a disruptive subversion of the hatred against us even while it is a surrender. It reveals the lies on which hatred is always built.

The LORD does not derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked. He does not call us to seek peace because he wants to punish us for failing. He is rather showing us the way to life.

But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed,
does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.