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The Other, My Enemy
We’ve been talking about “theother” and who that represents as we travel with Jesus following the resurrection. There was a question I came across this week that seems appropriate today:
“When did you learn the most in your life? Which experience was it?
Most likely, it was the time you felt most at risk.”
When we think about an enemy, we may recall Nazi Germany of WWII or the North Koreans and Vietnamese from previous military conflicts.
Recent enemies could be ISIS in the Middle East or radical Islamic terrorist as newspapers, TV and political leaders refer to them.
Common enemies are people who mean to harm or to inflict pain and suffering on our loved ones or in society. Webster’s dictionary defines an enemy as one who is antagonistic to another; especially: one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent. It could be something harmful or deadlysuch as “alcohol was his greatestenemy.”
Generally we think of an enemy being a person from a place that is in conflict with us. Looking at the many enemies Israel fought in making their way to the Promised Land and then defending it may seem like a mixed bag of who intruded on whom and why it was important to them.
Today, there are many enemies of the state and new enemies that are found on the internet, lurking, phishingfor the vulnerable, checking defenses and attempting intrusion. We guard against intruders with lights, alarms, cameras, firewalls, and malware along with background checks to protect our children and vulnerable adults from predators.
When we are not sure of such persons, they are the "Other." A good question to ask ourselves, "Where is God when we feel threatened and how would Jesus engage persons we see at the “Other” in our lives?”
The story of two men walking to Emmaus, a seven mile jaunt from Jerusalem, engaged a sojourner who asked, “What are you discussing?”
To be fair, the men were kept from recognizing Jesus but Cleopas asked,
“Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem that does not know the things that have happened there in these days?Jesusreplied, ‘What things?’”
Cleopas wasskeptical. I wonder, could anyone know everything that happens everywhere all the time? But to be fair, it sets the stage that Jesus was not recognized. He has their attention. It’s an irony. The reader knows something the two travelers do not which makes for a story.
Cleopas summarizes the events of Jesus death and resurrection. It is Luke’s summary and a confession about Jesus’ passion. It’s not a formal confession like our Apostle’s Creed, but one about a prophet who was powerful in word and deed. Jesus is known as the Nazarene, not the Son of God or Son of Man. His attribution, “before God and all the people.” Jesus is known as a sojourner. He is one of us, fully human.
Jesus had kindled hope in hisdisciples. Luke 1:68 tells us when John was born, his father Zachariah prophesied that the Lord God of Israel had “looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.”
The redeemer of Israel echoes Isaiah 41:14
“Do not fear, you worm Jacob,you insectIsrael!I will help you,
say’s theLord;your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.”
Cleopas is a victim of irony; he had hoped Jesus would fulfill the Scriptures, but the death of Jesus was a frustration to their hope and not the fulfillment. Even though the women reported the tomb empty and Peter confirmed their finding, Cleopas laments they did not see the risen Lord and he does not understand what happened.
The revelation of Easter begins with the fulfillment of the Scriptures, Luke’s gospel opens with the emphasis of this them:those who do not see this fulfillment are “foolish” and “slow of heart to believe.” V25
The suffering of the Messiah was necessary. Jesus’focus was about his Father’s business when: he preached, set the captive free from bondage, stayed with tax collectors andtravelled to Jerusalem to suffer and die.
Those who do not accept thisgospelare “foolish” and “slow of heart to believe” b/c “Christ is the fulfillment to which all the Scriptures point.”
The purpose of this philosophy is to disarm our fears of the world by revealing the unknown and what greater unknown is there than God’s expression of love and grace in our everyday lives. We choose not to protect ourselves butto offer love, friendship, compassion and grace.
Is there anything more natural, innate and universal than fear of the “Other”? Yet God’s people are commanded to “love the immigrant as yourself” (Lev. 19:33-34) “To love your neighbor as yourself’ (Matt. 22:39)
To love our enemy is countercultural to the way of the world. Enemies are outsiders, pushing their way in, threatening our jobs and resources. Yet God’s word commands us to receive and to love “strangers”.
Jesus offered a parable about the Great Judgement, when all nations are separated. The one says, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” The disciples asked-when did we welcome you –and of course the answer was when you welcomed the least of these – you were welcoming me.
Eph. 2:19 new describes Christiansas, “…no longer strangers and aliens…you are citizens with God’s people…you belong to God’s household.”
Last week we spoke about Xenophobia and demonstrated how our brains judge new persons we encounter, especially those who are different from us. Will they hurt us? Will they impact our lives?
Will we be able to live, work and developnew friendships?
When we are threatened, weeither moveforward or run away. Our response comes faster and more intense the longer we feeldanger.
Our human response is wired to doubt and to mistrust when we are uneasy with a new situations or new acquaintances. Our nervous system dumps adrenalin and we are faced with the dilemma of flight or fight. Sometimes that can look like suspicion or silence. I can imagine the disciples on the road to Emmaus were frightened when Jesus appeared. They hada choice of responding to this stranger: warning or intrigue.
Fortunately God’slove and grace enabled them to be faithful followers of Jesus and to receive this stranger as a friend and not as an enemy. In our Methodist tradition, the process of sanctification carries us forward toward perfection, so that we behave more likeChrist and less like us.
That place in life is Christ among us where we can beat peace. Our sense of well-being blooms and our blood pressure lowers. The threat decreases and we feel positive about our connections. We are blessed.
Fearing the “other” is failing to trust our Savior. As we begin to pray for our enemies, we choose to love as God loves. We find happiness and freedom. It is not easy to turn away from the worries and cares of this world. It is choosing to be in a place of trust and compassion.
It is only with the saving grace and love of God that we begin to experience the fruit of the Holy Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-23“…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law against such things.”
God be with us as we walk our Emmaus Roadwith our risen Savior.