God's Selfless Love
Preaching
Life Everlasting
The Essential Book of Funeral Resources
Object:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
Once, the justice equation was a strict and unyielding one; an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; what you did to me I did to you. But along came Jesus saying things like, "Turn the other cheek." And, "Go the extra mile." This is an ethic that goes against our sense of justice. We want to make the offending party pay, but Jesus in his role as God incarnate reveals to us a higher way, God's way. This is a way of mercy and forgiveness. This is a way of selflessness and love.
Preaching from this text at a funeral may seem a bit odd, but it embodies the ethic of selfless love and reminds us that God is not in the business of exacting an eye for every eye we poked or a tooth for every tooth we have knocked out. Instead, our God loves even the enemy. This comes as great comfort to those of us who have been enemies of God at various times in our lives.
Once, the justice equation was a strict and unyielding one; an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; what you did to me I did to you. But along came Jesus saying things like, "Turn the other cheek." And, "Go the extra mile." This is an ethic that goes against our sense of justice. We want to make the offending party pay, but Jesus in his role as God incarnate reveals to us a higher way, God's way. This is a way of mercy and forgiveness. This is a way of selflessness and love.
Preaching from this text at a funeral may seem a bit odd, but it embodies the ethic of selfless love and reminds us that God is not in the business of exacting an eye for every eye we poked or a tooth for every tooth we have knocked out. Instead, our God loves even the enemy. This comes as great comfort to those of us who have been enemies of God at various times in our lives.
