Thomas Browne said that “the vices we scoff at in others laugh at us from within ourselves.” More than any other relational failure this is true of hurt and vengeance.
When the great nineteenth-century Spanish General, Ramon Narvaez, lay dying in Madrid, a priest was called in to give him the Last Rites. “Have you forgiven your enemies?” the priest asked.
“Father,” confessed Narvaez, “I have no enemies. I shot them all.”
Too often that is the story of our lives, and Jesus knows it.
My Commentary:
Thomas Browne wrote, “The vices we scoff at in others laugh at us from within ourselves.” Few places reveal this more clearly than our desire for revenge.
The story of General Ramón Narváez is darkly humorous. Asked on his deathbed whether he had forgiven his enemies, he reportedly answered, “I have no enemies. I shot them all.” I suppose Al Capone could have said the same.
We may laugh, but Jesus would ask us to look deeper. We do not need guns to “shoot” our enemies. We can destroy people with words, rumors, ridicule, humiliation, exclusion, lawsuits, social media, or the determination to ruin their reputation.
Sadly, much of our political culture now speaks this language. Leaders too often talk not about opponents to be debated, but enemies to be defeated, humiliated, punished, or destroyed. Each side can become convinced that everything wrong resides in the other side. We forget Browne’s warning: some of what we condemn in others may be hiding within ourselves.
Jesus proposes something radically different: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
That does not mean pretending evil is good. Christians must confront injustice, protect the innocent, and speak the truth. Forgiveness does not eliminate accountability.
But Jesus refuses to let hatred become our weapon. On the Cross, surrounded by enemies, He did not say, “Father, destroy them.” He said, “Father, forgive them.”
Imagine if our political leaders spoke about opponents that way — not as people to annihilate, but as fellow human beings with whom we profoundly disagree.
And before demanding this of Washington, perhaps we should practice it ourselves.
The Christian question is not, “How do I get rid of my enemies?”
It is much harder:
“How do I keep my enemy from turning me into someone who hates?”
Because Christ did not come to teach us how to destroy our enemies.
He came to destroy the enmity between us.
We can destroy people with words, rumors, ridicule, humiliation, exclusion, lawsuits, social media, or the determination to ruin their reputation. As Election Day nears, we witness politicians doing this. Is any of this rubbing off on YOU when you listen to the words coming out of your own mouth?
GOD GAVE YOU A HEART TO LOVE WITH, NOT TO HATE WITH. GOD GAVE YOU THE ABILITY TO CREATE HEAVEN ON EARTH, NOT HELL ON EARTH!
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