Living great creation

The world which the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary inspire us to be part of is reason for the praise of the psalmist for the great goodness of God. The response to these exhortations to forgiveness, compassion and love of enemy is a challenge for believers. The Creation of God is a world where this is the life of people. Jesus is clear in the Gospel of Luke today that the attitude which Paul encourages among the Colossians is the Way we are to treat our enemies. We have enemies. Sometimes, as Rev James Martin SJ notes, we have some understanding of the conflict with an enemy. In that case, we need seek forgiveness and reconciliation. In other cases, we don’t know why the relationship of enemy exists between us. An early sermon by Rev Martin LutherKing Jr identifies hatred which can exist between people for which we are not responsible. The path to understanding this challenge to love those who hate us begins in prayer and thanksgiving. Father James comments on the revelation of the other which prayer for that person will bring to our consciousness. The social and personal consequences of living with the destructive emotions of hate and revenge are cited by both Rev Martin and Rev Martin Luther. The prodigal son will be the subject of the Biblical texts on Sunday. The father who forgives and rejoices at the return of the son who hated him is our model and our understanding of the position of God toward our own wanderings and offensive behaviour.