In the face of hate

Thursday April 1, 2021

In the face of hate

Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword shall die by the sword. Matthew 26:52

A large troop armed with swords and led by Judas comes to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Then Peter takes out his sword and strikes the servant of the high priest and takes his ear off. Courageous defensive reaction... But in the face of the violence he is subjected to, Jesus does not want to use violence. He could mobilize all his power as the Son of God to be delivered, but he wants to accomplish his mission of salvation until the end, until the sacrifice.

To the violence of the men who rebelled against him, God responded with this incomparable testimony of his love for them : he gave his Son. In the face of hatred and opposition he encountered throughout his life, Jesus showed his love and compassion, healing the sick, casting out demons. He conquered on the cross the instigator of evil and hatred, the prince of darkness.

If we welcome this love into our hearts, it snatches us from the grip of sin and violence. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness ; only light can. Hatred cannot drive out hatred ; only love can," said Martin Luther King, apostle of nonviolence. In Christ we too can oppose love to hate : Do not let yourself be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good (Romans 12:21).

Bernard Grebille

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Proposed reading : Letter to the Romans, chapter 12, verses 17 to 21.

12.17 Return evil for evil to no one. Seek what is right in front of all men.

12.18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.

12.19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but allow the wrath of God to act, for it is written, Vengeance is mine ; I give each one what he deserves. says the Lord.

12.20 But if your enemy is hungry, feed him ; if he is thirsty, give him drink, for in doing so you will heap up hot coals on his head.

12.21 Do not let yourself be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Source (Live Today)