Saint Patrick - the courage to turn back and forgive

For those who know the wonderful story of Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, the 17th of March is a day to remember him. The legend of his life seems to grow more and more with time, but there is enough fact in his testimony that teaches us some powerful insights. 

In reading a sonnet by Malcolm Guite, I was struck by the thought of Patrick's courage. When he returned back to the land of his captors, Patrick displayed remarkable courage. We could argue that it must have taken a miracle for him to go back to the very people who had kept him prisoner for 6 years.

 In doing this Patrick displayed his Christlikeness, because it was Jesus who taught us to 'love our enemies'. Patrick could have gone back to Ireland with a deep desire for revenge and retribution, but he chose the path of forgiveness and mercy. In doing so, he allowed the people of Ireland to see the true presence of Christ.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." - Matthew 5:43-45

Thought: How our world needs more people like Patrick today? When everyone seems hellbent on revenge and anger, we are challenged to choose the path of love.

Please listen to the beautiful sonnet by Malcolm Guite here.

Living in Grace

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Why is it so hard?

I have to admit that the more I grapple with the Scriptures, the more challenging they seem to become. Or maybe it is just a huge realization that 'living out' the Word is a lot tougher than simply memorizing it. I don't understand why some critics accuse Christianity of being a crutch to lean on - it is rather a difficult and demanding path to walk on. 

Take these words from Romans 12:19-21 as an example: 

Never seek revenge, my friends; instead, leave that to God’s anger; for in the Tanakh it is written,

“Adonai says, ‘Vengeance is my responsibility; I will repay.’”

On the contrary,

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For by doing this, you will heap
fiery coals [of shame] on his head.” (Proverbs 25)

Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.  (Complete Jewish Bible)

Wow, who thinks of feeding their enemy or giving them something to drink? We are usually trying to get as far away from them as possible. 

Thought: What do you find hard about following the way of Christ? 

Living in Grace

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Talk of the town

"Everyone sees it. God’s work is the talk of the town.

Be glad, good people! Fly to God! Good-hearted people, make praise your habit." - Psalm 64:9-10 (The Message)

When you are the talk of the town, people will be speaking about your life everywhere you go. This can be in the case of good things, as well as negative circumstances. Nowadays, we would probably say that you have 'gone viral' or that your name is 'trending' on social media. Either way, it is when a lot of attention is placed on what is going on in your life. Your actions are the talk of the community.

Eugene Peterson's reflection on Psalm 64 teaches us that when God responds to the evil-doers there will be much excitement and people will be glad that justice is done. We are then encouraged to 'fly to God' knowing that he has heard our prayers and that he does respond to our cries for help.

"The righteous will rejoice in the Lord
and take refuge in him;
all the upright in heart will glory in him!" (v.10)

Living in Grace

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You get what you deserve

There is a saying that we all have used at some point in our conversations that goes like this: "You get what you deserve!" We may have even said it like this: "You reap what you sow!" 

Well, in today's readings from Psalm 64 we note how David reminds the Israelites that God will dish out his own punishment upon those who seek to do evil to others. 

"But God will shoot them with his arrows;
    they will suddenly be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them
    and bring them to ruin;
    all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All people will fear;
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done." - Psalm 64:7-9

This verse teaches us to be patient when evil seems to prosper. We are reminded that God is the ultimate judge and no one will escape from the works of God. This can be a little frustrating for us at times, as many of us would like to dish out our own revenge, but we are called to trust in God's ways.

What does this verse for you today?

Romans 12:19 - "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord."

Living in Grace

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Tables turned

"Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.

They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals." - Psalm 63:9-10

In these verses David reminds his listeners (and his enemies) that those who plot against the Lord will end up on the losing end. This reminds me that even when it seems that evil is winning, we must remain hopeful and remember that God has already won the battle for us.

Who is seeking to hurt you at the moment? Does today's scripture give you any hope?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Refusing to retaliate

Retaliation is something that seems to come naturally to most of us, especially when we feel we have been aggrieved. This is why we find Jesus' instructions on forgiveness so hard to live out. Choosing to "turn the other cheek" is such a foreign concept for us to comprehend.

When Jesus was urging his followers to "turn the other cheek" in his great Sermon on the Mount, he was actually referring to an Old Testament law on forgiveness. It also occurs in Jeremiah's writing, in the book of Lamentations:

"Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them
and accept the insults of their enemies." - Lamentations 3:30

In this season of Lent we remember that Jesus didn't just propose this as a nice idea, but he actually practised what he asked his followers to do.

Who is God asking you to forgive today? Who is aggravating you so much, that you are ready to retaliate with vengence? What do you make of the words from Lamentations (and of course from Jesus?)

"The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief." - William Shakespeare

Living in Grace
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I'll get you for that!

We have all heard kids talk on the playground before - one child does something mean to another playmate and the response is, "I'll get you for that!" Revenge is the first thing on their minds and they seek to dish it out as fast as they can.

As we become adults, nothing really changes. People hurt us and our gut response is, "I'll get you for that!" We conjure up schemes as to how we can get some revenge and nothing can get in our way.
However, the Scriptures remind us of another way to respond - it requires patience and a firm belief in God's sense of justice.

Solomon wrote these words in Proverbs.

"Don’t ever say, “I’ll get you for that!”    Wait for God; he’ll settle the score." - Proverbs 20:22

I am not sure how you feel about this? It is a hard thing to practise, but worth contemplating.

Living in Grace
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It all starts with a Statue

These are my personal musings on the issues facing our country at the moment. Sometimes I speak in the voice of others...you may have to read this piece of prose more than once to comprehend my deep concern for the hearts of our people.

It all starts with a Statue!
I don't like you and what you represented so I will happily try and remove you from my world - so I remove your statue.
But, what have I really done?

Mr Cecil Rhodes (et al.) you lived in the past and represented an evil policy that hurt and broke me. You left me disadvantaged, poor and angry. I cheered when the new government came into power, because I had dreams of a new beginning and great opportunities, but they too have left me feeling empty and disillusioned. Now I need a new way of venting my frustration and to feel a little taste of victory - so let me tear down your statue!

But tomorrow when I wake up and realise that my heart is still broken, what then?
I will start to look for another statue.
And then another....
And another....
But, when all the statues are gone, I will STILL be left with a gaping hole in my spirit.
What then?

There are no more statues to tear down, so I will turn upon YOU.
I don't like what you represent. I am fearful of you and what you can take from me. I shouldn't speak the word out aloud, but really what I feel is 'Xenophobia' - I fear YOU as the "other" person, the stranger, the one I can't understand.
I fear you.

So, I will tear down your shops and homes - I will take your food and clothes. I will kill you if I have to, because I feel the need to get rid of anyone that robs me of MY rights.
I deserve that job!
I deserve that house!
I deserve that food!
It should be mine and not yours!
I fear that you will take it all away from me and that for a second time I will be robbed!

But, when I have destroyed your property and maybe taken your life, what then?
What will have changed?
Would I really have found some peace?

If I find 'peace' for a moment maybe I will even erect a statue in my honour.
It will stand as a symbol of my victory and the pain I have caused others.
It may stand for a few decades, but soon someone else will feel the need to tear that statue down.
My statue will fall.
It will FALL!

Angry descendants of "those foreigners" will come seeking justice for the Xenophobic attacks on their ancestors.
Will they not have a right to take down my new statue? After all my statue will insult them and all those innocent victims of my acts of violence and Xenophobia.
They will seek revenge.
And they will destroy the new statue.

But what then?
They too will wake up with pain in their belly and a gaping hole in their spirit.
They too will realise that revenge leaves only a bitter taste in the mouth.
What then?

It all begins with a Statue!

............................................

Is this why Jesus urged us to forgive one another. He knew that the cycle of revenge would never be satisfied. Jesus' word on mercy and forgiveness is NOT an easy word to receive, but in the midst of a mad world, it will be the only thing that puts out the fires of hatred.

Matthew 6:14-15 -“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.

Psalm 130:3-4 - If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshipped.

Matthew 5:43-44 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Living in Grace

D3LM3