The Courage of Peacemaking 7

Power and Love

Sermon on the MountMt 5:38-42

There is no peace because there are no peacemakers. There are no makers of peace because the

making of peace is at least as costly as the making of war.

Daniel Berrigan

Mt 5: 38-4238 You know that you have been taught, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”39 But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek, turn and let that person slap your other cheek. 40 If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well. 41 If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. 42 When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they want to borrow money, lend it to them.

[Contemporary English Version]

Traditional Teaching – “you have heard it said…”

Vicious cycle – Jesus names the cycles that spiral downwards – “But I say to you …”

Transforming actions or initiative – do these things and you will be changed

vs. 38 – “You know that you

have been taught …”

vs. 39 – “But I tell you …”

“…not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you”

Vs. 39b – “When someone slaps your right cheek, turn and let that person slap your other cheek.”

The intention was not to injure – but

to humiliate.

vs. 40 If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well.

vs. 41“If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles.”

Vs. 42 “When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they want to borrow money, lend it to them.”

Denial of Power is one step away from

abuse of Power

Two things about Power:

• Everyone has some power

Two things about Power:

• Everyone has some power

What Kinds of Power are there?

Positional

Reward

Coercive

Personal

Expertise Resource

Spiritual

Two things about Power:

• Everyone has some power

• Power is neither good nor bad – but can be used constructively or destructively

“Humility is the noble choice to forgo your status, deploy your resources or use your influence for the good of others before yourself. More simply, you could say the humble person is marked by a willingness to hold power in service of others.”

Dickson, John - Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership