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Counter-intuitive Virtues

I'm feeling very ambivalent about this photo of me playing laser tag. Because I am a pacifist follower of Jesus and yet feel the appeal of weapons in movies.
What would it have been like if Luke would have given in to Darth Vader at their first encounter? Instead of fighting, struggling, and suffering through not one, not two, but three feature length movies, until finally destroying the emperor and almost killing his own father?
What if the villains and heroes of our time and place would come together, be honest, and instead of investigating and denying would use their resources and talents for good? Could corrupt politicians, abusive priests, or totalitarian nations change their ways, admit their wrongs, and make amends?
And, would we forgive them?
Word
Jesus proposes a life based on virtues that are counter-intuitive. Virtues like forgiveness, tolerance and charity.
Jesus commends to his disciples in the sermon on the plain: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.” (Luke 6:37-38)
We may agree that those are noble virtues, but we also know how difficult it is to practice them. Following Jesus’ way of life takes practice.
Connection
We are constantly exposed to polarization, judgement, and greed. Over and over we are faced with the decision to harbor hate, begrudge, and hold back. Or choose to work on reconciliation, understanding, and generosity.
We can learn to be forgiving, tolerant and generous when we have experienced the same from God and others. Jesus makes it clear that it is God who has acted counter-intuitively by forgiving all of us: God “... is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” (Luke 6:35c)
Message
The Good News is: God’s love is not constrained by our human experiences. Jesus has shown us God’s counter-intuitive forgiveness, unbiased acceptance, and gracious mercy to all people.
Jesus says to you: Even when it's difficult, practice sharing mercy instead of holding grudges, loving those who are different from you, and bringing change through generous sharing.

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