Courtesy and Love

Dear Friend,

In my early years as a friar, I lived with a brother whose gentleness made him the best of role models. In our community meetings, especially in discussions on difficult topics, he always seemed to help us connect our head to our heart. There was wisdom. At the same time, when he saw someone (usually one of us) being insensitive or “unclear on the concept” of courtesy and love, there was no doubt where he stood. He’d squint his eyes and say: “It’s time for some Slap Therapy.” Would he ever have lifted a hand to hurt someone? No way. But Slap Therapy got his point across: something mattered, we weren’t getting it and it was time to wake up! 

In the Gospel this week, Jesus seems to be issuing a call for what we might call “chop and pluck” therapy. “Is your hand causing you to sin? Cut it off. Same with your foot! If your eye is a problem - pluck it out!” Of course, Jesus didn’t want his listeners to take him literally, any more than my brother really meant to slap anyone. Like my brother, Jesus was using strong language to communicate his feelings about something that mattered: in this case the matter of excluding or looking down on people who are different from us, even when they are doing great things! 

We are all in this together - meaning life, service, and caring for our world. “Anyone who is not against us is for us,” says Jesus, and the circle of how we see each other as family and parish needs to grow larger. We need to reach out (hand); step forward (feet); and see each other in a new way (eyes) - a good “alternative” therapy!

Gratefully,

Fr. Dan ofm, Pastor