Following Jesus in the 21st Century

This week’s gospel readings include the sermon on the mount and the beatitudes.  After spending a night in prayer, Jesus chose the 12 apostles and the remainder of chapter six in Luke’s gospel contains the familiar words of Jesus:

“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.”

Today, as in Jesus time, these words are counter-cultural.  Our natural tendency, when provoked, is to respond in like manner, whether in words or action.   It is considered weakness to back down when bullied, and foolish to roll over and accept ill-treatment.  But this is what it means to follow Jesus.  How can it be that our God wants us to suffer at the hands of our human brothers and sisters? Perhaps it is precisely because we are all brothers and sisters and children of God.  As a parent, everyone with two or more children has at one time or another broken up a fight saying something like, “I don’t care who started it… just quit fighting!”  Or when a child says, “He started it,” we reply, “I don’t care who started it…  blah, blah.”    Of course this makes little sense to the offended child who walks away sulking and feeling unfairly treated.  But isn’t this little scenario exactly the same as us adults who are constantly arguing over everything from politics to religion and sports?

We find it easy to find fault in others’ reasoning and we are offended when they disagree with us.  But does that mean we should just lay down and passively give in to anyone who attacks our beliefs or criticizes our values?  Is that what Jesus was saying at the Sermon on the Mount?  I think not.  Remember, this is the same man, the very Son of God, who overturned the money changers’ tables and repeatedly took on the Pharisees, saying “Woe to you… hypocrites… rich… blind guides, etc.”  Clearly, Jesus was not a shrinking violet. 

So which aspect of Jesus’ example do we follow, the one who overturns tables and shouts down Pharisees, or the one who says we are blessed for being meek?   Well, maybe both. Being meek doesn’t necessarily mean remaining silent in the face of evil.  Nor does it mean we should accept cultural norms when they violate God’s Truth.  Remember, Jesus also said, “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.”   For many years these words never seemed relevant to me, but lately, Christians are being mocked and accused of everything from ignorance to violating the civil rights of others for refusing to condone abortion, gay marriage and even euthanasia.  Yes, they are bombing Christian churches in Syria, Egypt and other middle-eastern countries, but closer to home Christians are being taken to court for refusing to participate in gay marriage ceremonies; Catholic adoption agencies have been closed down for refusal to place babies with gay couples; and employers are being forced to pay for contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, contrary to their religious belief that it is morally wrong.

Being a Christian is not for wimps.  Following Jesus takes courage and the willingness to speak out against the evil that is disguised as the path to personal fulfillment.  It also means praying for our enemies, loving and forgiving those who offend us.  After all they are children of God, our brothers and sisters in Christ, whether they know it or not.