Eye for an Eye

Some say that humanity does not change, that society makes the same mistakes, doesn’t learn and so therefore has the same faults throughout history.  The historians tell us that ancient Israel was a social mess, akin to a schoolyard brawl, with everyone upping the ante on each other as they felt aggrieved.  In listening to the more extreme of the world’s political leaders you may be excused for thinking we are still in ancient Israel!  However, Exodus settled this by decreeing that if I hit you, you only had the right to hit me in the same way and no more. This revolutionary ‘eye for an eye’ developed in many cultures at the same time. Thus in the ancient culture of our land, payback emerged.

Jesus come along and surmises that society can stand another leap forward, so he challenges us in the Sermon on the Mount. He knew the Law, and knew that his listeners did as well. His challenge to his listeners, the same challenge that is to us, is not to carry hate, hurt or grudges.  He knew that his listeners could quote the scripture and tell him that they were following the law, but he knew they were capable of something far greater.

Two weeks ago a woman was killed on Kennedy’s Hill. I knew her well, as well as the woman accused of killing her. Since then many things have been said, accusations thrown and threats made. The word payback has been used many times in my hearing. However, last week I was fortunate to be at a meeting where people steeped in their own aboriginal tradition and law urged their fellow people to forgo payback, to avoid revenge and mourn quietly and peacefully. Each person at that meeting was connected with that tragic situation as family, friend, or witness. Each person could have demanded some way to violently display anger, frustration or grief, but chose not to take this path. Not long after, I was at a similar meeting in Balgo, where grieving community members spoke not of revenge, but of knowing what happened to enable some closure.

This sort of movement is only possible with the grace of God. It is not possible without this grace, for the gap is too wide. If we believe that this possible, it can be achieved. If we are able to live this new life, anger will dissipate; hatred and vengeance will ebb away, robbed of their life blood.

When I was studying, a mate a called Greg went through a period of teasing me. His level of teasing was similar to that among brothers, so I took it in my stride, even though it irritated me. I had decided to confront him when he came up and said: ‘Diggesy, you drive me mad. I hate the way you seem to be always happy. I‘ve come up to you about ten times, hoping to start a fight so that I could deck you, but each time you make me smile and I can’t do it anymore. Ok you win.”

 I had no idea that any of this was happening, but then it all dawned. Unbeknown to me, I starved him of his hatred and anger, and in the end it was unsustainable. In another age Abraham Lincoln was criticised of softness towards his political foes. ‘Why do you try to make friends with them?’ a colleague asked. ‘You should try to destroy them.’ President answered gently, ‘Am I not destroying my enemies when I make them my friends?’

The challenge is ours, and it remains for our lifetime. May we be given the constant grace to be bearers of peace and harmony, to be makers of friends, not enemies.

Delivered 20^th February 2011 OLQP Broome, 7^th week in Ordinary time Year A