Love your Enemies: Break the Cycle of Revenge

Today’s reading from The Gospel of Luke continues Jesus’ sermon on the plain. It’s the one that began with the Beatitudes of blessings and woes.

In last week’s reading we heard Jesus tell his disciples that the poor, the hungry, the weeping, the hated and the defamed are blessed. Those in trouble, and those pushed to the outside who do not have the power to control things...Jesus states, without a shadow of doubt...that they are God’s beloved no matter what judgments other people make about their life’s situations.

And then Jesus further shocks the disciples by saying that prosperity is not a sign of divine favor.

Jesus refers to a Creation when instead of wanting more or being envious of those who have, and seeing those without as woeful, we are to decide that it’s unacceptable for others to be destitute...without shelter, good water and good food, and a means to make a living.

Instead of forcing our way of life on others, we are to use our power, our voices and our resources, to partner with and support the wise people already engaged with making people’s lives better. To make and support systematic change that reflects God’s love for all of humanity, and the whole world, and to oppose those who would scapegoat others and hoard things only for themselves.

Now, the disciples might be led to believe at this point that its revenge that we need. Those that have inflicted harm on others need the tables turned on them and to be dealt with harshly.

THAT’S the context of “Love your enemies”!!!

Diana Butler Bass says that "no teaching could be more significant right now. The politics of the United States is now an overt politics of revenge…yet revenge is utterly, completely contrary to the central vision of Jesus and the Kingdom that he proclaimed."

This does not mean “do nothing.” Jesus does not simply tell us about the Kingdom: he shows us how to live in it. He heals. He proclaims the opportunity for transformation and action. He brings forth a great catch of fish. He feeds and eats with the hungry. He stills the sea. He confronts the powerful. He overturns tables. He opposes injustice and even gets arrested and is put to death over it.

Butler Bass writes: “These two passages from Luke rip the veil from the lie. Any political or social movement based on revenge violates the clear teaching of Jesus Christ himself.The Beatitudes aren’t just lovely poetry, an intellectual puzzle, or comforting words. They are a call to get out and live in such a way that love shames those who are oppressing the blessed — to humiliate all those acting against God’s dream for humanity. That includes the wealthy who steal from the poor, extortionists, those who take bribes, anyone who steals food from the hungry, people who take pleasure in the pain and suffering of others, those who work against peace and justice, the persecutors of God’s beloved children.”

Love isn’t about giving in. It is about going beyond. Embrace the tactics of Jesus — the tactics of relentless love:

“(But) love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

We are back to Bishop Budde’s sermon: imitate the merciful God, not revenge-seeking tyrants. Your reward will be great. That’s a promise. —(Diana Butler Bass)

Now, this is a message for us, no matter our politics. We have different ways that we can act. Yes, certainly many of us may be called to confront authority at different levels. Another way to “love your enemies” today is to love and care for the people who are struggling: those declared to be the enemy. We can choose to show love and mercy to the immigrant. The transgendered. The one who has lost their job…their home…their way. The one who is told that they don’t deserve an opportunity. The one who is afraid. You can be kind to those who are worried. Lend an ear to those who need it. Regardless of your political affiliation, or whom you voted for, you can choose to act out of love and mercy.

There’s our food pantry. There’s the 2nd and 2nd dinners. There are people advocating on Utah’s Capitol Hill, or in our City Hall. And there is a call here, at St. Paul’s, to provide sacred safe places for community, for quiet, for song and singing, for healing and grace, and to express our gratitude for God’s unfailing love.

Please now allow me a personal aside. I love and regularly learn so much from John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight.” The Daily Show makes me laugh and think. And Bagley’s political cartoons often make me say “WOW.” I am grateful for their (and their staff's) work. There is a place for political satire. We need sometimes to laugh. Images, irony, and humor help to get our attention or help us see differently. Allow yourselves a moment to laugh as you need (be it ruefully or not). But also know that MOST of us aren’t needed to produce or spread such satire, or use it as our primary tool. Unless your calling is that of comedian or an entertainer that uses their spotlight to shine light on injustice, reject name calling and making fun of others as a way of life.

Instead, I want to draw your attention to the Genesis story. We reach the pinnacle of the story of Joseph who reveals himself to his brothers, who long ago betrayed him and long assumed they would never see him again. This is no short story or small episode. The story of Joseph and his family begins in Chapter 37, and runs for 13 chapters and concludes the Book of Genesis.

It is the story of brokenness and betrayal, with great woes and conflicts. Joseph has been deeply wronged by his brothers. He has, over considerable time, moved from powerless to powerful. Revenge is to be expected. Instead, he chooses a path of love and reconciling. He chooses to see his journey as now being in the place to do good, and that God has been with him for the duration. Furthermore, the Book of Genesis ends with the people of the twelve tribes of Israel living in harmony with Pharaoh and the people of Egypt. They are two peoples that become one, but not the same. They share resources, joys, and sorrows. The PEOPLE OF EGYPT weep with Joseph for seventy days when his father Jacob dies!

It comes BEFORE the Book of Exodus in our Bible, and the better known story of Hebrew and Egyptian, which begins with a new king in Egypt who “did not know Joseph.” The telling of the shared story has been lost. The work of oneness is no longer valued and articulated. So this new Pharaoh, who fears the Israelites, spreads that fear throughout his country, leading to suspicion, scapegoating, and slavery.

This is the backdrop to Jesus’ life: the Romans were understood in full story context of the ancient Hebrews and Egyptians. Jesus chose love in word and action because he ultimately understood that God wanted love. Jesus wanted not only justice, but to break the revenge cycle.

We now have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to do the same.

Jesus is the Way.

(A sermon preached at St. Paul's SLC on February 23rd, 2025)