Peaceful Resolution?

Is there a way to resolve an issue when it has already escalated out of control?

Jesus said, “I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.” - Matthew 5:20–26

We tend to think in relative terms when it comes to righteousness and evil.

Surely, I am not as bad as he, we might say, focusing on the deeds of someone else.  And Jesus starts out with a comparison.  Be more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees, he tells us.

But then he shifts the focus to us.  We don't need to compare ourselves to others to see if we are better than they are.

Instead, we should question our own actions.  Does anyone have something against us?  If so, we should resolve that issue before approaching the altar.

If we have a quarrel with someone, we should resolve it before we get to court.  Why seek out the judgment of God for what we can address ourselves?

Think of how much money could be saved avoiding court battles?

When it comes to those we cannot do anything about, those who are evil on a large scale, for example, we may have to rely on God's judgment.

But for those things we can resolve, the choice is ours to do what we can.

It makes me wonder whether the current war in the Ukraine is something we are supposed to resolve, or leave up to God.

I cannot imagine any peaceful way out, though, any way to deescalate and return to peace in the region.

Maybe we just don't have what it takes to be like God.

More to come...