Falling in love with our life partner and wanting to love God with all our minds, heart, and spirit are, by their very nature, mutually relational love. We love our partner, and we love God. Consciously or subconsciously, we want them to love us in return.
Sometimes, we do something because we expect to receive something back.
The thought process might flow around the question, “What is in it for me?”
Then there is the ethical thinking process of “Don’t do to others what you don’t want done to you.” This is survival at its most basic.
But Jesus is not speaking about reciprocal or relational love. He is not looking at what can be gained by this attitude. Nor is he asking us to take on
board a survivalist type of ethical approach.
What Jesus is asking for is, in fact, in every way, a highly positive ethical approach. It is as though Jesus is saying, “Let's reframe the way we deal with the inconveniences, pain and hurt in the world. Let's not let it have a vice grip on our life. Instead, shift the balance of power. Fight evil with good.”
What are the
barriers you place between yourself and the inconvenient ugliness of the world?
How much time, energy and resources do you pour into feeling safe and secure?
What opportunities may you be shutting out, and what gifts may you be closing in?
Jesus does not suggest we live irresponsibly. Perhaps he is
inviting us to view our world with a true perspective and recognise golden opportunities to offer goodness to all.
Reflections by Cherie-Lynn van der Merwe
