Our Love Is Not Perfect 我們愛得不圓滿

Twelfth Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: Our Love Is Not Perfect 我們愛得不圓滿

Though the truth will set us free (John 8:32), speaking the truth may make the speaker unpopular and even a martyr! Today’s gospel picks up where we left off last week but skips a few crucial verses. Last week, we read of how Jesus Christ gave the Twelve authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal all sorts of diseases (Matthew 10:1). Then He sent them off proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven (10:7). If the Twelve were sent by the Lord to proclaim messages, they (the messages as well as the messengers) were expected to be received without opposition. However, life is rather complicated. For various reasons, many people reject the truth and powerful people may even kill the messengers! Such is the reality of life! Before the gospel reading today, there are eleven verses of warnings about the difficulties and persecutions awaiting the Twelve and all evangelists in the future!

To begin with, Jesus says, “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves” (10:16). “Sheep in the midst of wolves” is not a bloody image but rather an eschatological and positive image. It describes the Messianic age in which “The wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat” (Isaiah 11:6). Therefore, the apostles were messengers of the coming of the Messianic age. But before the actualization of the Messianic age, the messengers will encounter difficulties and persecutions because they will crash head on against established institutions! That is why they must remain shrewd as serpents but simple as doves!

Men live in communities. They develop traditions and institutions to facilitate smooth interactions among individuals. However, those customs, traditions and institutions might not follow and even go against the will of God! For example, abortion, polygamy and slavery. Power institutions are supposed to serve the people but legal experts who know the technicalities of the rules will be able to embezzle without being caught! Thus, God’s messengers will be persecuted in courts and synagogues by governors and kings (Matthew 10:17-18). To contain damages even family members and friends have to severe their ties (10:21) with messengers of the truth. How deplorable a world we are living in! Then, we come to the three “Be Not Afraid” sayings in today’s gospel.

“Therefore do not be afraid of them” (10:26a). From the context, Jesus is referring to the secular authorities. Do not be afraid of kings and governors because they are powerful people and even usurpers of God but they are not God after all. Jesus elaborates further, “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (10:28a). Now, we know why we don’t have to be afraid of them because they are mere mortals and they cannot kill the soul which is the image of God. Who then can kill the soul? Obviously it must be God. Who else? Can Satan or its demons? From the example of Job, we see that without God’s permission, even Satan can’t do harm on a man (Job 1:12), nor his life (2:6). So, we should fear only the Lord who is able to put our soul to death, though He does not want to! He desires rather that sinners “turn from their evil way and live” (Ezekiel 18:23).

The story of Jeremiah is a depressing one. God told Jeremiah the fate of Judah, “Your own eyes shall see them fall by the sword of their enemies. All Judah I will hand over to the power of the king of Babylon, who shall take them captive to Babylon or strike them down with the sword” (Jeremiah 20:4). It is the most unpalatable message one can deliver to one’s own country. You will be accused of sedition; become a public enemy and be put to death! Who in his right mind does not reject such a message? Jeremiah was in a dilemma, “All day long I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me … The word of the Lord has brought me reproach and derision all day long. I say I will not mention Him, I will no longer speak in His name. But then it is as if fire is burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding back, I cannot!” (20:7-9) Jeremiah is truly an authentic spokesman of God. Unlike false prophets who speak on behalf of God to please the audience so as to save their own skins, Jeremiah speaks the truth at the expense of his own life. Consequently, even his friends denounced him and watched for any misstep of his (20:10). Jeremiah had full confidence in the Lord to take vengeance on his enemies (20:12) but in the end, he was murdered. Don’t expect swift vengeance from God. Remember, the Lord is patient and He desires the wicked to repent and live (Ezekiel 18:23)!

You might feel being unfairly treated. Why should we Christians be scapegoats? Why should we suffer and be taken advantages of? Jesus’ word is our only support. He says, “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). Jesus assures us that the Father is in full control because “Not one of them [sparrows] falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted” (10:29b-30). You may find counting hair useless and trivial. Yet, it reveals how far and minute God’s love can go. “So, do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (10:31). God cares about us, in particular, the well-being of our souls. He will go to any length to ensure that we will be saved and thus, we should not be afraid in speaking the truth and proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven.

John’s meditation sheds light on fear from another angle. He says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). Here, John uses the word ἀγάπη, to love for the good of the loved ones. Incidentally, it removes my worry about Simon Peter because Jesus Christ says, “But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father” (Matthew 10:33). Simon Peter immediately comes to mind. Luckily, the gospel of John recorded an incident in which Jesus Christ asks Peter three times whether he loved Him (John 21:15-17). For the first two times, Jesus uses ἀγάπη but Peter could only respond with φιλέω, to befriend. I suppose the Master-Disciple relationship has prevented Peter as well as all of us from loving the Lord more intimately. Jesus understands and doesn’t want to impose His will on us. So when He asked the third time, He uses φιλέω for the good of Peter. I suppose we don’t have to worry about the fate of Simon Peter any more. His position is secure.

Brethren! How much do we love God? Do we love as much as Jeremiah? Or as much as the Psalter who says, “Because zeal for your house has consumed me, I am scorned by those who scorn you” (Psalms 69:10). When the love of God is strong enough, we’ll have no fear. Moreover, how much do we love our family members, our neighbourhood, our society and even our country? Do we care about the fate of our family members and friends, colleagues and comrades, even our president and king? When our love for them and for their fate is strong enough, we’ll have no fear. Then we’ll be able to speak the truth without worry. Our hearts will be in peace. Amen.
2020 Reflection
Picture Credit: the1foundationdotcom