"Jesus calls on his followers to form a community the boundaries of which are porous and whose primary emblematic behavior is its refusal to treat others (even, or especially, those who hate, exclude, revile, and defame you) as though they were enemies (or outsiders)."
"Jesus does not deny the link between social distance and material exchange, but he radicalizes it by insisting that all persons should be treated as though they were close kin, whose actions, therefore, could not be regarded as stealing or begging."
". . .Loving, doing good, giving/lending must all be exercised freely, without calculation, without expectation of return" not as a moral code, but because this models God's character.
Huge ideas that are so far from what I tend to live by, and far from what I see the Church being known for. Frankly, I can see (and have heard) many excuses why I shouldn't live like that. And yet. . .
2 comments:
what a coincidence. i've been reading JBG's commentary on Luke as well and been extremely challenged as well! :-) r
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