Rose Mary

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you-Luke 6:27

While many religious texts speak of forgiveness, the Bible is perhaps unique in its extension of the passive act of forgiveness to the proactive gesture of prayer and blessing for those who are openly hostile to us.

From time immemorial we have been witness to, and victims of hostility under many labels. Some of us may have also been perpetrators of hate and violence in one context or other. The world has witnessed wars between nations in the name of territory, wealth , power, WMDs, religion and terrorism just to name a few reasons, and they have found honourable mention in history books. Within the boundaries of the Indian sub-continent, while we claim that there is unity in diversity, there are blood-thirsty criminals that do not hesitate to kill for the cause they support, be it caste or creed, however lawless it may seem to be.

Then, there are the lesser known antagonists that are found in the workplace, or within family circles whose weapons may be physical, psychological or vocal, with the capability of inflicting deep wounds to the human psyche.

Those who have been at the receiving end of any of these virulent overtures know that it requires a great deal of equanimity to deal objectively with the situation, to discipline one’s mind and control the desire to strike back with equal potency. Physical wounds heal quickly, but our psychological injuries tend to fester with the passage of time unless they are immediately treated with the antiseptic of forgiveness prescribed by Christ the healer. Unfortunately, the panacea for spiritual health does not end there. Even if you have schooled yourself to view your enemy without bitterness, the next step is to start loving them, and doing something thoughtful for them like you would do for a good friend. And all the while, the likelihood of continued ill-treatment from the same source is imminent. Afterall, enmity doesn’t neutralize itself overnight. Rather, it feeds and fattens on the violence it spews.

How then, can we attain the state of being that Christ requires of every Christian who claims to be a faithful follower? How do we bless our worst enemies and pray for their well being even while we are still at the receiving end of their viciousness?

One reflection in this direction struck me as I was watching the film Gandhi. The scene showed Gandhiji walking down a pavement in an all-white area in South Africa along with his friend, a white priest named Charles Freer Andrews. The discussion was on what Jesus says in the Bible about offering your left cheek to the enemy who has struck you on the right cheek. He explained to the priest that human courage builds up when a man is willing to take a blow, or several blows for what he feels is right. And when that happens there is something in human nature which makes your adversary’s hatred for you decrease and his respect for you increase. The impact of these words have been phenomenal for every Indian. It was the bedrock that supported the strategy of non- violence and it proved to be the ultimate weapon that led to the defeat of the mighty British empire in India.

Another equally poignant lesson in this direction is to be learnt from King David in the Old Testament (1Samuel 24). The story tells us of how Saul, David’s father-in-law, had become bitterly jealous of his popularity with the people and had set out on a man hunt along with an army of soldiers whose sole objective was to hunt down and kill David. In an unexpected turn of events, Saul walked into a cave to get some rest. This was where David and his men were hiding. Unarmed and alone and unaware of David’s presence, Saul was an easy target for David and his men. In spite of several opinions to the contrary, David did not harm him ‘because he is the King chosen by the Lord.’

Both these incidents teach us important lessons on how to counter the strong human tendency to retaliate and revenge ourselves against the wrong done to us. We must either build up our spiritual courage by taking several blows from others. This courage will finally transcend every obstacle that prevents us from pursuing the right path. Or we must be able to forgive others because the love of God burns so strongly in us that His Word reigns supreme over every negative human tendency that lives within us.