“Choosing The High Road at Reconciliation”
Matthew 5:21-24, 27-30, 33-37
February 14, 1993
It has been said of Christianity that it has been tried and found wanting. But the more I talked to people inside and outside of the church, I think it would be more accurate to say that many have tried Christianity and found it to be difficult.
Take the words of our gospel this morning, you have heard that it was said you shall not kill. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother or sister shall be liable to judgment. And whoever says you shall be liable to Hellfire. And then Jesus says, if you’re coming to church and then remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your offering, leave your pledge, and go and 1st be reconciled
The Christian faith, we’ve tried it, it’s not been wanting, it’s just been too damn hard
This past week, we clergy have been on a retreat with our new Bishop. Incidentally, I am terribly impressed with Bob Shahan. His vision, his understanding, and his beginning plans are first-rate. But anyway, we were challenged by the Bishop to give up our anger at the diocese and enter into a new relationship. What kept going through my head was that he was asking us to love our enemies. And I keep thinking, it’s tough enough to love your friends. I believe it was Shakespeare who said Who am I without my enemies?
The Christian faith, it hasn’t been wanting; it’s just too hard. If you’re going to be part of the diocese and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, go and be reconciled; that’s quite a challenge.
My learning from the retreat was that for 15 years in the Diocese of Arizona, we all received a great deal of psychic energy from being against somebody or something in Phoenix. A wish to show them up, or put them down, or leave them alone is what motivated many of us.
Several years ago, I read with fascination of a Japanese Sergeant who was on trial for crimes against American prisoners of war. His defense rested on three conditions. He had killed no one. He had little control over the miserable conditions in the camp. And, given the conditions, many prisoners would have died had he not sustained them by the hatred for which his words and actions engendered. It was a powerful argument. Hatred and defiance can motivate human beings do great things, even to staying alive. We can also point to the faults of the bad guys and not have to look at our own involvement. Who am I without my enemies?
Let me become even more personal, for you see, it takes one to know one. So here are some words from an expert. Is emotionally satisfying to reveal in one’s enemies stupidity, or to be filled with righteous indignation at the mess made by others. God knows it’s emotionally satisfying, but I’ve come to believe it’s also spiritually devastating you have to put your Christianity on the back burner if you wish to hate properly. You have to think of Jesus’ words that are a nice ideal, but it’s too much to ask to put aside our enemy lists. who am I without my enemies?
But the real question is who am I as a member of Christ’s body? Who am I without my enemies gala or who am I as a member of Christ’s body? Those are two different questions and they suggest two different roads, two different choices. Bishop Shahan asked members of the diocese to Foursquare the low road and to choose the High Road, the difficult Rd. the road of love and reconciliation.
Since we’re in Black History Month let me remind you of the words of Martin Luther King, Returning to hate or hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
Taking the High Road and the diocese means to become widely inclusive as opposed to being exclusive and separate, choosing light over darkness. It means working for unity instead of emphasizing those things that make us separate and distinct from other parts of the diocese. It means sacrificing our dreams for the benefit of the whole period it means a new and radical call to love and frankly it scares the Dickens out of me. Jesus said, if when you are bringing your gift to the altar, you suddenly remember that your brother or sister has a grievance against you leave your gift where it is. First go and make peace, and then come back. Does this mean that every Sunday on awake to Saint Phillips we should swing by Ed Moores house? Or the Iranian consulate, or go up to phoenix, or even stop by our neighbor’s place? Possibly that may be a step but I think the beginning of being able to love ones enemies is to learn to love ourselves. The more we see ourselves as lovable the more we are able to love another. Jesus said love your neighbors as yourself. It’s only thought of as a loving your neighbor, but the beginning of the process is a healthy self love. You can only love your enemies if you see yourself as lovable. So give yourself a Valentine on this Sunday. A great big Valentine that says you are lovable, you are loved. And then see if you can reach out to your enemies. The next step is to see your enemies as lovable. One of the great learnings that has come to us from Alcoholics Anonymous is that in order to be whole, one has to learn to love others. But the only way to do this whose to see them as worthy of love. The only way to trust someone is to see them as trustworthy. The only way to forgive someone is to see them as forgiven. And the only way to love is to see others as lovers.
You will find that the world becomes largely what you choose to see it as. If it is seen through enemies eyes, it will become diminished and it will look like a battlefield. If the world is seen through otherwise, it would look like a magnificent Valentine feast. The choice is yours, the low road or the High Road. The road that we walk beside our Lord.
Have I convinced you that you need to put aside your grievances? Have I convinced you that Christianity is not too difficult for a Sinner like you or me? Probably not. But maybe in the coming months, together we can take the first faltering steps along the highway. Maybe we can awaken our hearts to the fact that each of us is God’s lovable child. Doctor Gerald may in his book The Awakened Heart, writes just be gently open to your own confusion and love’s invitation. Don’t worry whether you believe in God or whether Christianity is true and don’t worry about whether you are good enough to be acceptable in God’s eyes. Try to be honest as you can and as gentle as possible with yourself.
And then he says you are capable of having enemies and being mean. We know that. But here is the good news. There is no meanness in your humanness. There is no vengeance in your true heart as a child of God. Love your enemies. Be reconciled to your brothers and sisters. Become a child of God. Amen