Tuesday 29 July
John 4:7-16; Ps 34; Luke 10:38-42
or John 11:19-27
Tolerance
John’s reading today is about love. “Let us love one another, for love comes from God” Well I am sure that we do love God. But our neighbours? When they tailgate us - have noisy parties - jump the queue? Do we really have to love them? Jesus says that we have to, so we had better do what he asks. Whether we like it or not, every person has a ‘unique’ role in God’s plan. So to recognize everyone’s specialness, let us try by being more tolerant and considerate.
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I agree that we are invited, commanded even, by God to love one another.
And we need to begin at home - with ourselves, our whanau, our communities.
But how do we love those who shoot aeroplanes out of the sky or slaughter innocent people in their homes and schools and centres of refuge? How do we transform these actions of evil into moments of grace?
I like to pray The Ravensbruck Prayer at times like these ...
O God
remember not only the men and women of goodwill
but also those of evil will.
And in remembering the suffering they inflicted upon us,
honour the fruits we have borne
thanks to this suffering -
our comradeship, our humility,
our compassion, our courage,
our generosity, the greatness of heart
that has grown out of all of this;
and when they come to the judgement,
let all the fruits we have borne,
be their forgiveness.
(Anonymous writer in a concentration camp)