Murder – It has its
Start in the Heart
“WikiWorld”
– President Harry Truman once said that “the only thing new is the history you
don’t know.” We come to live with facts
without really questioning how or where they originated. However, in the day in which we live, there
has been a renaissance of research of sorts.
People want to know “stuff” and the simplest, but certainly not the most
accurate, way of doing this is by “Googling” to learn about this stuff. Thus we have grown accustomed to living in
this WikiWorld where various opinions and explanations are given equal credence
without bothering to see which is accurate and which isn’t.
The
understanding of origins is just as important when it comes to learning how our
feelings and impulses give way to murderous rage. In fact, we often want to dismiss the root
causes, thinking that only the end result is evil while the root cause is
merely unfortunate. After all we’re
“only human” aren’t we? So it is that we
see Jesus doing some of the research work for us when it comes to the most
heinous of human acts; murder.
Anger – The fertile soil of the mind: Anger, uncontrolled and unresolved provides
bountiful opportunities for all that comes from it. Anger may flare up and burn out quickly but,
if nursed along, anger eventually yields a slow smoldering version of itself;
bitterness. What was once a short-term emotion has become a long-term vocation.
Aggression – The soul driven by bitterness
and resentment will then look for opportunities to target its enemy not fearing
the outcome of those attacks. It has
only one overpowering urge; to get revenge for slights real or imagined.
Attack – The use of uncharitable language referenced by Jesus shows that the product of bitterness is now ready for harvest. It is ready to be used and without fear of
holy retribution.
The
sad thing in all this is that the bearer of bitterness and anger rarely sees
clearly enough to recognize the downhill path they are on until the steepness of
the slope is recognized and that, too late.
Jesus offers a
Counterpoint
The
counterpoint that is offered by the teacher jerks us back to our own
reality. It’s all about YOU (at least in
this situation)! As if providing them
with a point of reference with their own bleak reality and what they will hear
shortly in His model prayer, Jesus reminds us that we have enough on our plates
without trying to play like we’re God.
There
is a need to short circuit the process whereby anger becomes a full time resident
in our souls. This happens when we:
Recognize – We must remember that the worship
of God has as much to do with the way we treat other people as we treat
Him. We must take time to prepare for
worship by setting straight any outstanding wrongs we may have with others
around us.
Reconcile – To “reconcile” a checking
account means to make sure that everything adds up correctly. To reconcile with a brother or sister means
to do all you can to make things right with them. You cannot change their minds but you must do
all you can to put “the ball in their court” when it comes to these
matters. If they are not willing to
forgive, then their problem is no longer with you, but with God, as long as you have done all you can do to make things right.
Reassure – Fulfilling the “law of love” by
seeking and/or offering forgiveness, we received the reassurance of God and we
have done what is right regardless of how might play out.
In
the end, the lesson to be learned in all this is that we must beware of our
desires to have what is reserved for God only.
We are not even to be given to waiting and watching for the ax to fall
on our enemies after we have forgiven them or sought their forgiveness.
Police
officers, seeking to disperse onlookers from a crime scene have been heard to
say, “Okay folks, it’s all over now, move along!” We would do well to listen to that advice
when we’ve forgiven or been forgiven; Once it’s done it's done.
NEXT POST – When the Eye of
the Beholder starts to Smolder
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