Turn Around?
Is it possible to live in harmony with everyone?
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:9-21
Paul's advice is not easy to follow.
He tells us to hate evil and then wants us to bless those who persecute us, those who are evil in our eyes. Do not repay evil for evil, he says, but give to our enemies.
No one wants to be played for a fool, and yet it seems that is what we can be setting ourselves up for if we do as Paul says. But maybe he has the right approach.
There are a few people who come for meals at Caritas who have survived by deceiving and cheating others. They live on the street. They lie, steal and do whatever it takes to make it from day to day.
I have found that it is not enough to do as Paul says, to give without acknowledging that we know what they are up to.
When they know we see through their schemes and yet we treat them with compassion anyway, seeking to make their day a bit better, then it is like heaping coals on their heads.
They may not change their ways, and they may not do anything different at first, but if we keep it up, and we accept them as they are, slowly their demeanor changes.
They may see us as an oasis in the desert, and that may be enough to get them to want to change.
But that shouldn't be the goal, to change them. Let that be up to God. Our job is to be there for them.
If you think about that, it is really easy to do, as long as our ego doesn't get in the way.
More to come...