Isn’t the Teacher calling His students to mirror God’s largesse in their own lives?
Largesse - generosity or liberality, especially in spirit or attitude.
This is the Father our Teacher knows intimately and - as He points out – everyone in the world already experiences to some degree every day:
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the
righteous and the unrighteous.
Jesus talks about love to neighbors and even to enemies. Prayers for them and a welcoming heart to everyone! These reflect our appreciation of God’s Largesse to us.
I don’t think Jesus intends to limit His students to the examples He mentions here. Rather, He is calling us to possess a Spirit of Liberality which will permeate all our relationships.
Thankfully, the Teacher always practices what He preaches. His students learn how to live large by observing His life.
The student when fully trained will be like His Teacher.
What example of largesse impresses you most in the life of our Teacher?
Jesus interaction with the woman caught in adultery is an example of his "largesse" of spirit. We all have our sins, yet Jesus forgives and accepts us. Our challenge is to model that spirit with others.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a "take revenge" society. Everywhere we turn we see examples of people "giving others what they deserve." That is so contrary to what Jesus says in this passage. In fact, he basically tells us to let bad things roll off our back. So difficult to do in today's society. I like what Jeff Walling once said. If you have something in your craw, SWALLOW IT! If we can do that more and more, the less temptation we will have to "take revenge."
ReplyDeleteBuzz
I have prayed for enemies, even helped them before. I have even "turned the other cheek" upon occasion (and yes, they hit the other side as well!)
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have struggled with the "Do not resist an evil person." and know many others hwo have as well. I don't know if it is pride, or a sense of self preservation, or...
I have often said I hope that if someone was physically attacking me because of Christ that I wouldn't resist, but if someone was just attacking for whatever other reason, I would most likely defend myself. Yet that's not what Jesus says. I also knew some friends that lived in a crime ridden city that said, "If someone wanted to rape them they couldn't resist because of "Do not resist an evil person." I had a big problem with that way of thinking. Is there a balance between self defense and these scriptures? If so, where is it?
Yet at Jesus' trial, he was lied about, falsely accused, spit on, slapped, beaten, mocked, whipped, and crucified. He often baffled the religious leaders with answers to their questions. No doubt he could have defended himself against them, and convincingly outwitted them. He hardly says anything and convinces Pilot to let him go - it is the crowds that Pilot fears - and his political future. He exclaimed, "I find no fault in this man." Even without Jesus really defending himself.
Talk about "Largesse"
I am continually amazed at the Teacher. Baffled, confused, yet amazed.