RETREAT IN LENT 2021

Day 11, Saturday, 27 February 

Going beyond what’s expected

When they first explored Antarctica there was a group that got into difficulties in the snow, the ice and the cold. They were trying to make it back to base but were exhausted and running out of food. One of them, Oates, quietly left the tent saying he was going out for a while and walked away to his own death, so that there would be enough food for the others.

People do heroic things and give us a glimpse of the greatness hidden in humanity. Lent reminds us of this hidden greatness in all of us and calls us to reflect how we can respond. Our Jewish ancestors in the faith were called to fidelity to a covenant, a basic keeping of their promises to Yahweh. (Deuteronomy 26: 16-19). Building on this foundation, Jesus says to his followers, ‘you have heard it said…’, referring to such texts as Deuteronomy, ‘But I say to you…’ and he goes on to make the most amazing demand which we still can’t swallow even after two thousand years, ‘… love your enemies’. (Matthew 5:43-48).

The history of our country, the history of every country, is full of failure to fulfil these words of Jesus. Yet he insists on them in the most solemn way. Often, we cannot even love the people we live with, leave alone our ‘enemies’.

But what does it mean: love your enemies? Jesus knows he is asking a lot. But he wants us to grow to our fullest capacity and this kind of love stretches our capacity to be fully human. It clearly does not mean just tolerance and respect for others, though it includes these. It is an active reaching out of our heart to others, believing they are doing the best they can, maybe sometimes consoling and strengthening them with words, forgiving them and seeing them as God’s beloved daughters and sons just as we are, even if they hurt and oppress us.

It is easy to ‘love those who love you’ (verse 46). What is much more demanding is to be patient with those you can’t stand! Try to build a bridge to them. Be ‘for’ them as Jesus was when he said, ‘this is my body, given for you.’