Year A
Epiphany
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
Contextual Background:
“Eye for eye” limited vengeance; Jesus goes further: do not retaliate in kind, turn the other cheek, go the second mile, love enemies, pray for persecutors; be teleios (mature) like the Father.
Humans are vulnerable to thinking our in-group is not only the best for us, but makes us better than others. This is exclusive in-grouping. Jesus extends the idea of love of neighboring mischpachot to even those who are our enemies. In his time, the enemy were the Romans and their Empire. Again, this is not about feelings, but about working for the well-being of others as a means of cultural transformation.
Within the Jewish Tradition:
Leviticus pairs justice with neighbor-love. Wisdom envisions maturity as aligning with God’s merciful character.
The Challenge Then:
Break cycles of domination without surrendering to them; witness a nonviolent strength that exposes injustice and opens space for change.
The Challenge Now:
The “God of the Gun” (domination reflex) still captivates imaginations. Jesus forms a people who refuse mirroring harm and pursue creative, courageous love that seeks enemies’ good.
Implications for Leaders & Communities:
- Leaders: train in nonviolent communication, de-escalation, and courageous boundary-setting.
- Communities: practice enemy‑love locally (listening across divides, concrete service, advocacy for all).
What I Am Learning:
Enemy‑love is not passivity; it’s disciplined courage that reveals God’s heart.
In this passage, Jesus calls disciples and his society to love enemies. It is odd that so many Christians then imagine a God who cannot do the same by sending people to hell forever. Does God as us to do things that God won’t do? I cover this in my book, Go and Do Likewise.
The Question I’m Sitting With:
Where is Jesus inviting me to a creative third way that resists harm and seeks the other’s good?
