7th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C
Christian Perfection is Compassion
Recently, I led a team of colleagues from our college on a benchmarking visit to another Catholic-led University. We were amazed at the way the university grounds were so clean. In our conversation with the Vice Chancellor, we asked him what the secret was. He spoke about the founding Vice Chancellor of that institution who would pick up pieces of rubbish, if any, as he walked up and down the corridors and the lawns. Eventually, everyone – staff and students – started to pick up the wrappers and pieces of paper around, and they also stopped throwing them around. By and by the university community got into a culture of cleanliness that is so impressive to this day. In the beginning days, the Vice-Chancellor going around picking up rubbish might have seemed a weakness, but it has turned out to be one of the strengths of that wonderful institution.
We continue to listen to the Sermon on the Plains from the Gospel of Luke (6:12-49). Last Sunday we reflected on the Lukan version of the Beatitudes. What we come across in Luke is a briefer version of Matthew’s lengthy “Sermon on the Mount” (Mt 5:1-7:29). The core of the message here is an invitation to go beyond the mere observance of laws that stipulate basic requirements to maintain social order. Jesus is not just focussed on maintaining moral order in the society. His concern is bringing forth the Kingdom of God. With that objective, the Sermon of the Plains proposes the values of the Kingdom that seem challenging but not impossible. Let us reflect on this.
A call to magnanimity
Magnanimity is being great. It was one of the virtues highlighted by the Greeks of old. It is associated with heroism. The word, ‘magnanimous’ signifies an attitude of being benevolent, generous and altruistic. It literally denotes being big-hearted. It includes being generous and forgiving especially towards a rival or less powerful person.
The first reading of today narrates to us a very interesting story from the life of David, the future king. Saul set off and went down to the wilderness together with three thousand men in search of David in order to kill him. It turns out that David takes control of the situation and the sleeping Saul is at the mercy of David. Abishai, the nephew of David and a trusted companion, actually perceives this as the will of God: “Today God has put your enemy in your power; so now let me pin him to the ground with his own spear. Just one stroke! I will not need to strike him twice.” David acts magnanimous. They take away only the spear and water bottle from Saul as he slept. No one saw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were all asleep, for a deep sleep had fallen on them. David’s magnanimity would eventually pave the way to the throne.
The aphorisms of Jesus seem demanding, nearly impossible, and hence we say, “Oh that is only the ideal, we need to be practical.” Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you – oh, that is not possible! To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too – oh, that is not practical! Lend without any hope of return – oh, Jesus is not serious! Even if following these don’t seem natural to us, we need to challenge ourselves to the values of the Kingdom!
We see examples of this in history even in the contemporary world: previous enemies shaking hands, individuals being magnanimous to sacrifice their personal interests for the sake of the community or a nation, and people like Pope Francis not bull-dozing people around using their available powers! So, it is possible! It is the way to heroism and greatness!
Perfection is compassion
The virtue of magnanimity among other virtues demands compassion – being soft and large hearted. Therefore, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus brings to a conclusion his first lengthy preaching with this aphorism: “Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.” What Matthew has it as “Be ye perfect as your heavenly father is perfect” (Mt 5:48), Luke renders it as “Be ye compassionate…”
Last week I was part of a “Group Lectio Divina.” The members were sharing on the gospel reading of this Sunday. Everyone who shared spoke of Jesus’ invitation to perfection. Yes, they were influenced by Matthew’s version of the Sermon on the Mount. They were reading into Lukan text, Matthew’s version. What a pity, I thought. There was a part of me that wanted to blurt out, you guys we are not reflecting on Matthew. The gospel of today from Luke. And there is no word, ‘perfection’ mentioned here! Anyway, I did not speak up out of compassion for those who were there. Sometimes, it is better to be kind than to be correct, I decided.
Probably, Luke saw the possible legalistic trap in the Matthean version of “Be perfect…” (In fact, Matthew himself clarifies that in the subsequent lines – Mt 5:45.) Luke wants to be explicit: Be compassionate because God is compassionate. You might remember the book, published in 2016, that collected together the teaching of Pope Francis on the theme of mercy of God. It was entitled, The Name of God is Mercy. I am sure, we all generally agree until that point.
But being merciful as He is – this is not easy. Because, He “causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and sends down rain to fall on the upright and the wicked alike” (Mt 5:45). This is the challenge! The challenge is valid today as it was 2000 years ago.
Let us pray for that inner strength to be compassionate when our survival instincts say something else. Let us pray for the inner strength to be humble to pick up the rubbish even when we are in a commanding position. Let us pray for the inner strength to be magnanimous by taking on a large heart. This is the meaning of being part of the Kingdom of God!