Fourth Sunday after Trinity
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Grace, Mercy, and Peace be to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
My Brothers and Sisters when we speak about the topic of forgiveness it is one that on the one hand we are very grateful for not only from our Lord and Savior but from friends and family as well, but at the same time we find it very difficult to practice. Especially when we see the words here that St. Paul speaks to the Church in Rome, a Church that is being persecuted and betrayed by fellow citizens in the city of Rome. To practice forgiveness becomes very difficult in that situation, nevertheless our Father in heaven commands us to carry out.
Now the Epistle Lesson picks up half way through this section, which starts in verse 9 with the words, Let love be genuine that we are to abhor what is evil and hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection, and outdo one another in showing honor. That is the start of this section that we have here, which now explains how that love is genuine and how we abhor, or that is to say hate what is evil and hold fast to what is good.
Because most people, the world included, enjoys this message of genuine love, it sounds good to our ears, but that is because we don’t think about what genuine loves really means. When realize what it means it sounds like a bit too much. This is what we find in the very first verse, Love that is genuine, blesses those who persecute you and does not curse them.
Love is not the simple thing that many people make it to out to be. Most people think of love only as a pleasant feeling or kindness towards people they like or generally don’t know all that well, but when they are told they must love their enemies. That is where there is some hesitation. When he says here that you are to bless, that literally means speak well of, those who persecute you, and not curse them, hurl insults at them, slander them, and the like. That’s a tall order.
But that is why we have the Law. You don’t need to be told to love the people you like or people who treat you kindly. On the other hand, we do need to be told to love people that we don’t like or who don’t like us. Why would we like bears fans? When God says to love your neighbor as yourself, he doesn’t just mean the neighbor’s whose company you enjoy, but he means even the person who treats you poorly. Indeed it goes further, we are to join with them in their joys and in their sorrows.
For how quickly do we become unhappy when those who have wronged us seem find some blessing or joy in this life, or rejoice when they come into some type of misfortune and pain and suffering, and we think they deserved a lot more than that. That is not love, and yet how often do we let these thoughts slip into our minds and fall victim to this?
Then it continues in fact we are not to be haughty that is wise in our sight, thinking highly of ourselves, and treat others as though they are worthless. If you are the wisest or most capable person you know, that falls under pride. When we think because I can do or have done this or that, that I’m better off or know more than others. You aren’t better than your neighbor, God just gave you something different to benefit others. Rather we ought to associate with all people, for who is it that called us each to our various stations. For God has placed each of us where we ought to be and has given different gifts, gifts you may not value until you find yourself in need.
This love does not repay people evil for evil, but rather does what is honorable in the sight of all. So if you made an agreement with someone and they hurt or betray you, you should not do the same. Rather look at what the text says,if possible, so far as it depends upon you, you ought to live peaceably with all. For there are some who will refuse to be reconciled even though a branch of peace is offered to them, because they given their hearts over to hate, but that must not be you, rather your heart ought to be full of love for your neighbor. Let your heart be pure towards them, if they are hungry feed them, thirsty give them something to drink, and it will heap burning coals on their heads. For if you treat them so well, why are they such villains towards you? And if they are such villains, by God’s grace they will realize the error that they have committed and repent.
Now all of this is summed up beautifully in the final verse, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. For when you practice what is evil and return evil for evil, then you don’t see that what you are actually evil?? That is the trap, it is certainly tempting, and the sinner inside of us takes enjoys getting revenge against those who wronged us. For no one here can look at this list and say that I have loved my neighbor as myself, I have shown them kindness and understanding, I have been patient with them, when they tripped and fell, I did not laugh at them, but bent down to help them up. No matter how vile or mean they might have been.
Now this is why when you hear the command to Love your Neighbor, it is the law, which shows us how difficult it is to love those that have wronged us, that have hurt us or betrayed us. That our flesh does not want to do it. The sinner inside would rather have revenge instead of forgiveness, but that belongs to God and not to us. This is why Christ had to come to fulfill the Law for us to love us while we were yet still sinners and do all of the things commanded here.
Consider Jesus on the Cross, who when he was reviled, did not revile in return but pleaded that we might be forgiven for they know not what they do, Jesus was beside sinners at weddings and rejoiced in the gift of marriage, he went to the tomb and wept along with those who mourned loss, when the thief who hung beside him hungry and thirsty for righteousness as he drew near to death, even though he had reviled and mocked Jesus earlier mere hours before, Jesus said to him today you will be with me in paradise.
The Law of God demands that we Love God and your neighbor, when we see it in its truth that this is what Love is meant to be, we know that we cannot live up to it. But what the Law really shines upon is what is the great love that Jesus has for you. For Jesus has blessed you, and speaks well of you to the Father that you might be forgiven. Jesus became flesh that He might be with you in your joy and in your sorrows. Consider the great lengths that Jesus went to that you might have peace with him, not seeking to punish you for your sins, but rather to suffer on your account so that the rift between God and man might be healed as He gave his body into death, and shed his holy and precious blood for your sake.
This is why we must understand the strict demands that the Law requires of us, because it makes Christ’s work shine all the more brightly. For who amongst us can say that we have come even close to this, rather Jesus has given up everything that we might be healed. Let Christ be before your eyes, to see what He has done for you, and His love will heal a hardened heart, a heart that is filled with hate. For if the Love of Christ dwells in you, then these sinful ways will begin to lessen and weaken and instead of seeking revenge against your neighbor or cursing them, rejoicing in their suffering, being puffed up with pride when you consider what Christ has done for you, it will gentle your heart. As you begin to share with them the love that Christ first had for you.
Now one final point needs to be made, about where this goes next, for there are some who take this a bit too far, and think that this then means we are to just let people sin unchecked. The very next section in the letter to the Romans is about the role of Government, and God refers to the government as a servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
But we will talk more on that next week as we look at that passage on Government as our Nation Celebrates its birthday.
So my brothers and sisters, look at Christ, and see how He fulfilled the Law of God for your sake, even going so far to give up his life for you, He suffered for you, but did not hate you. Even though you persecuted Him by your sins, Jesus blessed you. Jesus even went so far as to humble himself for your sake to be with you to associate with us poor miserable sinners. So go forth this day and share the same love with which Jesus loved you to your neighbor, lest in hating your neighbor you be overcome by evil yourself. In Jesus name. Amen.