The kaleidoscope is turning dramatically once again in the Middle East, and it is not easy to see what fresh patterns might be emerging . One can only hope and pray that the experience of genuine democracy will create opportunities for lasting harmony in the region, but, one fears, “plus ca change”, the more something appears to change, the more it remains the same. Today’s Gospel is offered to the disciples as a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount: in it, Jesus addresses the crisis of a nation under occupation, a people that yearned for its freedom. As today, there were then those who thought that violence offered a way forward – drive out the oppressor, cut out the evil root, show no mercy. The reaction of the Zealot provokes Jesus’ teaching - which is as radical, as it is new.
The Levitical Law bestowed on Israel through Moses, of which we heard a passage in the first reading, was, in its own way, and in its own context, surprisingly enlightened. The perception of “an eye for an eye” and “a tooth for a tooth” was a huge leap forward for a society which was used to wreaking revenge by wiping out whole groups and families. But the Law’s definition of “neighbour”, of course, referred only to those who shared a common religion and culture. “You must not exact vengeance” applied only within the boundaries of the nation. What Jesus does is to make love of enemy, a genuine concern for his or her well-being, the hallmark of his ethical teaching – those who follow him are to be identified by an acceptance, a service, which is truly catholic, all embracing, universal. The perfection of God is to be recognised and respected in all those who have been created in the divine image – none, in Jesus’ canon, may be rejected, even our persecutors. “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”.
At a stroke, Jesus’ words cut through all the nationalisms and tribalisms which have disfigured history and offer a vision of human solidarity, a different path for mankind. The tragedy, of course, is that the Sermon on the Mount continues to fly in the face of the norms of our fallen behaviour. Secular humanists, with some justice, point to the sectarianism of Christianity as among its more obvious failings. St Paul, in our second reading, is trying to address a situation in Corinth where the local church is divided into factions. “Be holy for I, the Lord your God, am holy”, was the message given to Moses, and the Apostle of the Gentiles takes up that theme, and addresses the Corinthians as people who should reflect the sheer holiness of God. The fractured nature of their communion leads him to the direst of warnings: “If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him, because the temple of God is sacred: and you are that temple”. William Temple once pointed out the problem is not so much that Christianity has been tried and has failed – rather, it has never really been tried.
And that, surely ,is the point of this Sunday’s Scripture readings. Because the Church is the mystical body of Christ, and we are members of that body, it is right that more should be expected of us – for “you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God”. In a world which is confused and ill at ease with itself, where in society after society interest group is pitted against interest group, culture against culture, those who try to live in Christ should be offering a radical alternative. It was said of the first Christian communities “see how these people love one another” – converts were made, not so much by the power of preaching, but by the consequences of that preaching shown forth in gentleness, in kindness, in the living out of the virtues, in service of neighbour.
As St Paul demonstrates in his dealings with the Corinthians, this positive face soon became flawed anhristianommunities, all too soon, and all too often, conformed, and conform to the current mores. Instead of offering a different perspective, a critique, we take the easy option, and meld into the given background. The Church is then seen not as prophetic but as part of the status quo – what should be challenging human behaviour and creating vision, shores up what is complacent and second rate. The very antithesis of all that Jesus requires: “be perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect”.
There is a Latin phrase, sometimes attributed to St Augustine, “in neccessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas”. Loosely translated that comes out as, in those things which are fundamental to belief we must maintain unity – in those things about which there can be legitimate plurality, there should be freedom, but in all things charity, compassion, must be the overriding principle. As a mission statement for the Christian community, I can think of none better. Let us hope and pray, that those who come through these doors, into this church, experience the beauty of holiness, yes; orthodoxy in expression, of course; but also the warmth of a people filled with the Spirit of Christ who are prepared to treat anyone, and everyone, as their neighbour, and to care for them as such.
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