“Who is my enemy?”

Rev Cathie Lambert - 20/02/2022

Readings - Genesis 45: 3-11, 15 and Luke 6: 27-38

In last week’s Gospel reading, Luke’s version of the Beatitudes, we were led down from the mountain to a level place. Today, we are still down on the plains. We are amongst the people. We are amongst the mess of life. In the last few weeks, we have seen the church, and others, placing themselves up on the mountain where they can look down their noses at others. I think it is quite appropriate that the lectionary has dragged us all onto level ground. This is the place where we see each other, rub up against each other. This is the place where we get up close and personal and can sort the goats from the sheep, the wheat from the chaff, the friend from the foe. And it is here that Jesus says plainly, “Love your enemies”.

In the last few weeks, the media has been grappling with those who for some are considered the enemy; abused women who refuse to smile, people whose gender does not fit society’s binary concept and the first peoples of this land who somehow bear the responsibility to forgive. It may appear that human nature is wired to create factions, to seek out the enemy, and to divide the crowds into us and them. But as Padraig also pointed out in his poem, Shaking Hands, it is human nature to connect, to touch, and to be known. So, as we find ourselves on the level plain, eye to eye with the ‘other’, who is our enemy and how do we learn to love them?

Let me begin this exploration with a short illustration. This short conversation comes from Brazilian writer, Paulo Coelho’s novel ‘The Zahir’.

“Marie, let’s suppose that two firemen go into a forest to put out a small fire. Afterwards, when they emerge and go over to a stream, the face of one is all smeared with black, while the other man’s face is completely clean. My question is this: which of the two will wash his face?

That’s a silly question. The one with the dirty face of course.’

No, the one with the dirty face will look at the other man and assume that he looks like him. And, vice versa, the man with the clean face will see his colleague covered in grime and say to himself: I must be dirty too. I’d better have a wash.’

This short anecdote speaks much truth for me. We are very quick to see the grime, the unwanted characteristic or the flaw in the other who stands before us. Less obvious are our own weaknesses and flaws. I am a great believer in the Jungian approach that suggests when another person niggles, annoys, angers or frustrates us; it is quite feasible that they have highlighted an aspect of ourselves we would rather not face. Jung calls this the shadow side.

But it’s not just a psychological thing. We will be familiar with the command to Love God and love your neighbour as you love yourself. These things are so intimately entwined. Meister Eckhart, the fourteenth century mystic, said “The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me; my eye and God's eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowing, one love.” Our image of God shapes who we are and infuses our living. If we see God as judgmental, searching for our errors and quick to condemn; we will likely be the same with the people we meet. If we view God as compassionate, loving and full of grace; guess what will likely be our character? And if we have been quick to put someone we know into that first category, what might that say about the God we worship? Our deep, personal connection to God shapes and forms us.

Now I don’t want to get prescriptive from the pulpit, so I will speak from my own experience. (And in sharing this, I am not professing to have this sorted out and get it right each time.) When I find myself face to face with someone who causes all sorts of negative emotions to arise in me, I ask myself some questions. What part of me, that I would prefer not face, is this person bringing to the surface? How is standing in front of this person like looking in the mirror? What am I afraid of? What is the fear that arises in me when I encounter this person? What does my reaction to this person tell me about my understanding of God?

I decided to include the reading from Genesis today because I see an important link. Growing up the story of Joseph, and in particular the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical, were an important part of my life. I have been Joseph, Reuben, the narrator, Pharaoh… you name a character, I can do it. But this encounter where the brothers, out of desperation, go to Egypt and find themselves in front of Joseph always had a lot of power to me. Those same brothers who left him for dead in a pit out of their own selfishness are now vulnerable in Joseph’s powerful hands. In the musical, the tone of the music shifts, there is a softening. And then there is this great reveal – I am Joseph, your brother. A moment of honesty, reconciliation, healing, reunion. It arises from a yearning for connection and requires courage and honesty.

Is this not what loving your enemies looks like? It does take courage and it requires honesty – honesty about ourselves, the situation and our God. I feel like I am preaching to the converted here this morning, as I have observed this community over the years and how it embraces difference. And so, although there is a challenging message in today’s readings for all of us, I wanted to leave you with an image of hope. Those of you who were at Common Dreams with me a couple of years ago may recall a presentation by Heather Price. A young mum, at the time she was a musician in residence at Adamstown Uniting Church in NSW. She shared some of her music that she had written for the congregation to use in their worship. The songs were easy to sing along to and had great inclusive words.

Adamstown Uniting is a diverse community. All ages, all genders, all abilities worship together. Let’s not pretend that this would always be easy and harmonious. They are a very creative church using the arts in various ways to express their faith. They worship in a reasonably old and traditional building. A few years ago now, they decided to paint the steps leading to their door as a rainbow to reflect the diversity of the people who worship there. More recently, Heather wrote a song in honour of the rainbow steps and all they represent for the community. In a world where enemies seem to be created on a daily basis, this song is a ray of hope. It displays what is possible when we are courageous and honest and give loving our enemies a shot. So, let me leave you with the sign of hope that is also amongst your community.

Rainbow Steps – Heather Price