Tuesday, March 17, 2015 (St. Patrick)

Tuesday, March 17, 2015 (St. Patrick, Bishop and Missionary of Ireland, 461) 

Matthew 5:43-48

Remember for good all those that love us, and those that hate us, and those that have desired us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them. 

• The Book of Common Prayer, p. 57

I read out these words frequently, most Wednesdays and Sundays, when I lead the intercessions. They always hit me in a powerful way. We live in a world where the narrative of ‘us versus them’ is reflected in many of our news broadcasts. And indeed, it’s true, we all have enemies in one way or another. One particular spin on this narrative is that we are living in a ‘clash of civilizations:’ west vs. east, sophisticated vs. primitive, Christian vs. Muslim (and/or everyone else). Philosopher Rene Girard, though, challenges this assumption. Are the human race’s violent tendencies really attributable to Tribe A being so different from Tribe B? No, Girard says that Tribe A and Tribe B usually want, basically, the same thing. (What might that be most often? Power? Resources? Land? The sense that their party is ‘right?’) The warring parties are in competition with one another. That’s why there’s conflict. He calls this ‘mimetic desire.’ We are stuck in a cycle of imitative violence. A temporary relief can occur when we sacrifice something or someone: a scapegoat. But in Jesus we see the scapegoat not only triumphing over this death-dealing, but also unmasking the hideousness of this system for what it is. In following Jesus we commit to siding with the oppressed, those victimized by those who hold the power. This is the Jesus who calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. The cynic will say that this is just hippie wishful thinking. But think for a second: if violence really did bring about lasting peace, wouldn’t we have it? But the Gospel is a stumbling block to people. It doesn’t make sense. It isn’t convenient. It’s amazing, but also scary. Jesus calls us to carry our cross. To follow in his Way, which puts us at risk, like sheep among wolves. From time to time we must ask ourselves, when we become wolves ourselves, are we continuing in Christ’s Way? Or have we flung our crosses off of our backs and flattened others with them? 

Today we give thanks for the life and witness of Patrick, who brought the Gospel to the Irish people. As a young person he was enslaved and taken to Ireland. He eventually escaped, became educated, and in response to a vision, returned to Ireland on a mission to preach the Good News. Given his experiences one would not blame him if he had grown resentful of Ireland and wished terrible things on its people. But his experience of faith inspired him to work for good in the place where his enemies had forcefully brought him years earlier. 

- Matthew Kieswetter