Ecclesiastes says there’ a time for everything…a time to laugh. That’s why I reread every now and then the book Disorder in the American Courts. Transcripts have funny moments.
For example, an attorney asked: “How was your first marriage terminated?” The Witness replied: “By death.” The attorney went on: “By whose death?” The reply from the stand: “Take a guess.”
Another lawyer asked a witness to describe an individual. The witness said: “He was about medium height and had a beard.” The lawyer asked: “Was this a male or a female?” The witness said: “Unless the circus was in town, I’m going with male.” Yes, a time to laugh.
A good book can help us live happily. The Power of Meaning explains that happiness results from living an other-centered life. I would like to focus on three of the author’s ingredients for happiness.
First, we have to have a sense of belonging, with family, colleagues, like-minded pals. A second ingredient is purpose. It can be work, volunteer service or even a pastime. A third is transcendence, living for something greater than oneself, e.g., family, a profession, passion for a cause. Now I believe there's a quest within each of us to seek what is ultimately true and good. To paraphrase St. Augustine: our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee, O God. Our ultimate purpose is to abide in God and God in us forever.
The word of God carries us back over three thousand years, to the first king of ancient Israel, Saul. He sets out to kill the charismatic David. Here David sneaks into Saul's campsite and spares his life. David refuses to take revenge on Saul.
David may be challenging us to forgive wrongs done to us, to move forward with life.
Paul in his letter to the Christian community at Corinth contrasts the first man, so-called “Adam” with Jesus Christ. The first was a “living being,” the second a “life-giving spirit.” Yes, we participate in God’s triune life by virtue of baptism, but not yet fully.
Paul says we were like the first man--corruptible, but we will be like Jesus through the waters of baptism--new creatures, adopted sons and daughters of God our Father, destined to inherit the promises made by God . Paul challenges us to live a life worthy of that calling.
In the Gospel, Jesus asks us to love our enemies. In the Greek text the word for love is agape. It indicates not romantic or emotional love, but unconditional love for fellow human beings, wishing them only good.
Jesus makes some radical demands upon us: Do to others as you would have them do to you. Love your enemies; if someone slaps you on one side of the face, offer the other; give to everyone who asks.
How can anyone practice these? A few people, say Francis of Assisi or Dorothy Day or Mother Teresa, have tried to live these literally. But most find it impractical. So, how understand these teachings?
First, you don’t have to like someone to love them. The love Jesus asks means, no matter how badly we are wronged, we will never let bitterness close our hearts nor wish others anything but good.
Agape recognizes the common humanity we all have – and that unconditional love begins with the recognition that we are all created in the image of God, no matter how shabby the appearances, and called to one destiny: to be like God
And that’s why Jesus connects our love of God with our love for one another. Matthew 25 says loudly and clearly: when I was hungry, when I was thirsty, etc. We can’t say we love God and yet neglect the image of God in our needy fellow human beings.
Second, these demands are linked to the mission of Jesus, who proclaimed that the kingdom of God is in our midst. You and I are living in-between the historical coming of Jesus and the final coming of Jesus in glory. We live in the tension between.
Jesus indicates the goal of our ethical behavior may not always be achievable. For example, who can possibly give to everyone who asks. Yet the aim is to be generous with what we have: time, talents and treasure.
To the person who strikes you on one side of the face, Jesus says, offer the other as well. But sometimes we have to stand up against evil in self-defense.
Jesus here indicates the direction of our lives, that is, we should try to be peacemakers, healers, bridge builders, reconcilers.
And so, the teachings of Jesus create a tension between the present and final stages of the kingdom of God.
The genuine disciple of Jesus lives in this tension by seizing the opportunities to do good today. To quote John Wesley: “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” Amen.
