Complacent or Intolerant?

20/10/2020

A Reflection on the First Reading for October 25th, 2020:
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Exodus
22.21-27

Thus says the Lord: “You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry; my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children orphans.

“If you lend money to my people, to the poor one among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them. If you take your neighbour’s cloak in pawn, you shall restore it to that person before the sun goes down; for it may be their only clothing to use as cover; in what else shall that person sleep? And if that person cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate.”

Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

Reading the Book of Exodus causes me to sigh deeply. This is the book that gives us the Ten Commandments. But wait… there’s more! Following the Ten Commandments, the Lord continues speaking through Moses, to give many more laws for us to follow. He reminds us of what we are not to do and speaks very specifically about how He will deal with us if we ignore these laws. My bureaucratic heart loves the way God works. He wrote the very first set of laws in the Ten Commandments and followed it up with supporting regulations and procedures!

I am generally a law-abiding citizen in civil society. I would never think of knowingly and wantonly breaking a law because I know what could happen: I could get fined, or put in jail, lose my job or family, and there would likely be publicity that would be embarrassing.

So, if I profess with my mouth that I am a child of God and a follower of Christ, why do I struggle to bear witness to that in my actions and in how I follow His law? Have I become that secure in His love for me that I think I can just ignore His direction?

In today’s society, it has become easier to become complacent (and perhaps even righteously defensive) about ignoring my responsibility to the poor, the lonely, the oppressed, and the downtrodden. After all, I have my own family to take care of, and bills to pay, and what if I share what I have and then don’t have enough to take care of my own? And if I see someone being taken advantage of, or being treated disrespectfully, I certainly can’t interfere or get involved. What if I get physically hurt? What if someone thinks I’m a busybody for sticking my nose in someone else’s business? And while I know I should stop and speak with the people on the street where I work, I also know that they are probably receiving support through our social service system, and I am pressed for time today. I have a lot of good reasons for what I don’t do.

However, to tolerate this behaviour is to participate in it, and by doing so, I am bearing false witness to God. He died for me so that I would no longer be a stranger in a foreign land. By dying for me, He chose me, and showered me with His total love and compassion. He didn’t avoid the pain of the cross. He didn’t worry about whether He would have enough left over. He bore it all and laid down His life for all of us, including those with whom I have become complacent about sharing His total and abundant love.

I recently had a beautiful experience praying with a group of women, and in the course of our time together, someone expressed her admiration for the intolerance that one of our group members shows when she knows that what is happening is not what the Lord wants. And more than just showing intolerance, this friend will take the action necessary to stop whatever it is that is not of the Lord’s will and encourage those around to join her in listening for His will and then acting upon it. I need a shot of THAT intolerance!

Lord, give me a spirit of intolerance for injustice and the courage to act on it, secure in the knowledge that Your abundant grace and healing love will always be enough.

Sandy Graves

5 Comments

Suzanne LeBlanc

20/10/2020 09:13:18 am

Thanks for this, Sandy. I was actually thinking about this this morning before opening your post.

It is a challenge to look into my heart and ask myself how can I feel so comfortable with all that I have while there are so many of my sisters and brothers, even right here in Canada, doing without the basics?

If I were to ignore my hungry child or put them in a shed in the yard with little food and with dirty water to drink, it would be clear that would be so wrong I would be prosecuted for child endangerment. As a Christian all people are my sisters and brothers and all children are my responsibility. How can I have more than I need and allow for children in my human family to go without? It is very humbling because I do not do what I should.

Sandy Graves

20/10/2020 11:52:45 am

I also struggle with this very thing Suzanne. I have a friend who always wishes others "enough". I am committed to challenging myself to share from my place of plenty, and to trust that my definition of "enough" will change! Right now enough = too much in my life. God bless!

Alana

20/10/2020 09:33:34 am

Thank you Sandy for your beautiful reflection and Suzanne for your insightful comment. I had a conversation recently with a colleague about confession (of all things) she wondered what kinds of things I confessed and I shared that I have found that as I have grown in my faith it is less about the things I have done and more and more about all the things I haven’t done. I so often choose things that while they may or may not be evil in and of themselves, quite often not helpful in growing my relationship with God or others or prevent me from doing the things that God is truly calling me to. Lord, help me to always choose to put You and others first. Help me to make choices that help me grow closer to You, bear the fruits of Your Spirit, draw others closer to You and that ultimately we may be with You forever In Heaven. Amen. 😊🙏🏻💕xo

20/10/2020 11:54:17 am

Amen Alana! We were discussing the JOY approach in our home just last night .... Jesus Others Yourself. So simple yet I am sooooo human. May I act on the JOY approach daily!

Lori

20/10/2020 01:17:32 pm

I am so grateful for your transparent heart, Sandy! I too need a shot of the indignation our friend acts upon when she knows she is not aligned with God. I am so prone to forcing my will. I will often act without pausing to pray, and conversely, can pause for too long while I talk myself out of doing what He is asking of me. I join my prayer with yours with a heart of thanks for the grace of being enlightened by your words.

"Lord, give me a spirit of intolerance for injustice and the courage to act on it, secure in the knowledge that Your abundant grace and healing love will always be enough."