Reading the words of Jesus or, more accurately, those who recorded his words can be unnerving. He seldom said anything that did not contain a challenge or some "stop you in your tracks" idea.
For today, try these words on for size: Matthew 5:42.
They come at the end of a paragraph placed in the first third of his famous "Sermon on the Mount."
After completely "debunking" the Hebrew scriptures' ancient insistence on "eye for an eye" justice, counseling a way of radical peacemaking and warning against personal legal actions, Jesus offers this advice about beggars:
"Give to the one who asks you, and do no turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. "
Reading the "red letters" can be exciting, simple and very challenging. Who's up to their application?
... meanwhile, our national debate is still mired in the vagueness of 'national security' rather than the real issues of declining wages, increasing poverty and rampant growth in food insecurity/hunger throughout our country.
ReplyDeleteWill the nation listen? Has it ever?
Anonymous, the same question could be asked of our churches, with little difference in the response. Sad, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteLarry (et al), I've finally posted some of the high points of the homeless count here in my neck of the woods.
I keep reading that verse, over and over again, looking for the missing part. You know, the part that begins, 'except for when...'
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll just ignore what Jesus said instead. :)
Maybe the most formative verse in the Bible in my desire to be generous. I need to read this over and over constantly.
ReplyDeleteBe careful, please. Remember, Jesus also said to cut off your hand and gouge out your eye.
ReplyDeleteMatthew, thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteYes, with Jesus one must be careful.
One thing I know for sure, he meant the pursuit of his life to be serious and not managed by culture. He spoke in hyperbole often, but the truth remains.