February 20, 2022 – Epiphany 7C     

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Luke 6:27-38

Did you ever send a letter to someone that, once you placed it in the mailbox, you regretted sending it? Did you ever dial a number that, once it starts ringing, you wait until the phone is answered and then you hang up really quickly. There is this thing we call regret—a gnawing sense in your gut that maybe you shouldn’t call, mail, or say what you are thinking in your head. With the advent of social media, this has become a “thing” for many people—texting regret. “On Second Thought” is an app that lets you take back your texts after hitting send. It syncs with your usual texting program to let you message everyone on your contact list as usual, just in a different app — and with some nifty “unsend” features that prevent endless embarrassment. The app lets you choose a “grace period” of up to 60 seconds after you hit send when you can delete the message. Even if the other person doesn’t have On Second Thought, you can either recall the text to edit it or delete it completely. It helps you from suffering from sender regret. Sometimes we shouldn’t be so quick to speak.

What we have here in the Gospel lesson is the continuation of the Sermon on the Plain—which began last Sunday with the Blessings and the Woes. Here, whether the audience has changed or not, we have Jesus offering four examples of possible retaliation: if someone strikes you on the face…if someone takes your coat… in someone forces you to go an extra mile… if someone begs from you incessantly. The sermons on the Mount and the Plain teach us a lot about personal behavior.

When we read the text, we begin to think to ourselves that, if a disciple followed these teachings literally, these teachings do not seem wise or part of the wisdom of G-d to act in such a way. Here is the teaching:

-But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;

-And if anyone wants to take your coat, give your shirt as well;

-And if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them back;

-Give to everyone who begs from you.

What is Jesus talking about? Are these hyperboles and moral exaggerations? What is Jesus trying to say to us? 

We all have these human reactions that well up within us where we want to make an initial judgment against people who have done something to us, or strangers with whom we have had an unfortunate interaction, etc. We are quick to make judgments, and to make moral characterizations. What Jesus is trying to say here is to step back and take some time to ponder and to reflect—like having a chance to “unsend” a text—or un-mail a letter. Jesus is teaching us not to be quick to revenge or judgment–but to try to find a way of understanding—trying to see if there is a way of learning more about their story. And these are tough teachings. He says “Don’t be quick to punitive thoughts. “Don’t be quick to judge”. Jesus wants to change the narrative—from quick and automatic irritation, anger and hatred—to understanding, insight, and Grace. Irritation, anger, hatred and retaliation only seem to heap gasoline on the fire of conflict. Jesus is teaching his disciples another way of dealing with conflict—and that is to step back and wait for discernment, and to wait for G-d’s voice to guide us and direct us.

Pastor Dave