Love Is a Dish Best Served Warm

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture (semicontinuous)

Old Testament: Exodus 3:1-15

Psalter: Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b

Epistle: Romans 12:9-21

Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28

Scripture (complementary)

Old Testament: Jeremiah 15:15-21

Psalter: Psalm 26:1-8

Epistle: Romans 12:9-21

Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28

___

Prayer

In the flaming bush you promised deliverance to your people, O God, and in the cross of Jesus you embraced our suffering and pain. In times of misery, show us the transforming power of your love that we may know the hope of your glory. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)

___

Reflection

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 affliction; persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue 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 arrogant, 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.” Instead, “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 12:9-12)

There is no denying that non-violence and non-retaliation are at the heart of the New Testament ethic. Jesus is very clear in the Sermon on the Mount that we are to turn the other cheek. We are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

Paul draws on Jesus’ teaching in Romans chapter 12. In fact, Paul sounds a lot like Jesus— “bless those who persecute, you do not curse. Do not repay evil for evil.” In verse 19 Paul refers to the Old Testament prohibition not to take revenge because that is the Lord’s prerogative.

But it is not enough not to repay evil in kind, but the believer must go beyond that to doing good for the enemy. “If you’re enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” The Christian ethic of non-violence is not just about refraining from repaying evil, but overcoming evil with good.

In Star Trek lore there is a Klingon saying “Revenge is a dish best serve cold.” But here in Romans, Paul is saying that love is a dish best served warm.

Instead, “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.”

To return good for evil means that the enemy is also the neighbor. To heap burning coals upon their heads in doing good refers to the hope that the enemies will see they’re nefarious ways and be ashamed of their deeds. Perhaps then, they will seek reconciliation.

It is true that there may be those who do not want to be reconciled to us; hence Paul’s admonition to the Romans “as far as it depends upon you live at peace with all persons.” Notice Paul doesn’t say only live at peace with people who want to live with peace with you. No, “as far as it depends upon you, live in peace with all persons.” The response of my enemy is irrelevant for how we respond.

This Christian ethic of nonviolence is not easy. In fact, two thousand years of biblical interpretation of Jesus and Paul have attempted to find ways to get around this ethic of non-retaliation. Many have looked for loopholes.

We may not be sure at times how to obey these commands in specific situations, but we cannot forget that the words of Jesus and Paul are in the canon of Scripture, and therefore have a claim on us.

PRAYER: Faithful God, you are the hope of all the oppressed, and the source of freedom for those held captive. Make us strong to witness to your liberating power, in generosity of life and in humility of spirit, that all the world may delight in your goodness. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)

___

Check out my web portal to all things “Faith Seeking Understanding” here.