1 Cor 8:1-7, 11-13 / Luke
6:27-38
The Corinthians had asked Paul if it was okay to eat the flesh of animals
that had been sacrificed to idols. This was a practical question, because
only a portion of the sacrificed animal was offered to the idol. The remaining flesh
was sold in meat markets.
It was difficult to determine what meat in a market was from a sacrificed animal and what meat was not. Paul answers that they can eat this meat. On the other hand, if eating the meat causes them to scandalize someone whose conscience, for some reason, won't permit him or her to eat it,
they shouldn't eat it. Paul's point is
that we should always beware of leading others into sin, even by actions that
aren't sinful in themselves.
It was difficult to determine what meat in a market was from a sacrificed animal and what meat was not. Paul answers that they can eat this meat. On the other hand, if eating the meat causes them to scandalize someone whose conscience, for some reason, won't permit him or her to eat it,
How sensitive are we to the consciences of other people? "Every
believer in the world must become a spark of light." John XXIII, Pacem in Terris
****
In
ancient times in the Greek world much of the meat of the sacrifices was then
sold for the food of the people. By eating this meat, did Christians share in
idolatry? They do not honor false gods, since these do not exist, says Paul.
But as some Christians are scrupulous, it is better not to offend them and
therefore to abstain from meat coming from sacrifices to false gods and to
abstain from something they could legitimately do. That is love, and love
should rule the community. Love does not rest on sympathies alone.
****
Jesus
says: "Love your enemies!" (s that possible? Can we have an
affection for one who hates us just as we love our dear and near ones? To make
enemies our friends is a contradiction in terms. The very words are the
opposite of each other. What did Jesus really say? For this We must go
back to the sources. Greek has three words for love: 1. Eran:
is passionate love, that desires the others for itself. Eros
and erotic are the noun and adjective from this verb. 2. Philein: is solicitous
love. The love friends have for each other. 3. Agapan: to show goodwill.
The love that makes no distinction. The love that serves, it is not
self-seeking. It is the third word that Jesus used. It has nothing to do with
emotion or friendship. This love is ready to suffer, turn the other cheek.
It gives and lends, is ready to surrender even the cloak, not only the tunic.
It prays and blesses. It takes he enemy into the presence of God. It wants
to imitate God, who is love. It wants to end strife and establish peace;
to create an atmosphere all around, where it is possible to love the
other.
A
gospel-love, a love of faith, has no boundaries. One who loves gives more than
asked and loves the “unlovable,” including enemies. It does not judge nor
condemn, is always ready to be compassionate and forgiving. When we look at all
these implications, we have to confess with shame that we are far from this
ideal proposed us by our Lord. How far are we in this world the sign of God’s
own love?
****
It is said that a trapped snake can get so angry and confused that it
will bite anything, including itself. We may find this puzzling or amazing, but
that is a good image of what happens to us when we let anger and resentment
control us. We get trapped by our own anger and resentment and we end up biting
and hurting ourselves. When we get angry, we think we are getting even with our
enemy. The truth is that we are harming ourselves more than we are harming our
enemy. (If our enemies were to know this, they would be satisfied just to keep
irritating us, because we will do the rest of the damage.) So, when Jesus said:
"Love our enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse
you, pray for those who treat you badly", we are actually doing good to
ourselves. Because by following what Jesus teaches us, we free ourselves from
anger and resentment, and we become open to the love and compassion of God. It
is a loving compassion that is given in full measure, pressed down, shaken
together, and running over, that will turn our so-called enemies into our
friends.
***
Let
us pray: God our
Father, from whom all good things come and for whom we live, fill us with your
own gratuitous love, the one you have shown us in Jesus Christ. Teach us to
love and bless even those who curse or maltreat us. Indeed, deepen and widen
our limited love, make it without measure, like yours, that we may be called sons
and daughters of you, the Most High, our Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God bless.
