Inconvenient Love

Practicing the virtue of courage

Luke 14:1-6

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?”  But they were unable to answer his question.

          Boys and girls, how many of you have a sibling, a brother or a sister? Raise your hand. Now, how many of you have a pet: a pet dog or a pet cat or a pet walrus? Raise your hand. Now, which do you love more: your little brother or your pet alligator? Raise your hand if you love your brother more. Raise your hand if you love your pet monkey more. How many love them equally? Well, that’s a start.

          Now, if your dog or sister got hurt (broke their arm), would you help them? Of course you would! Is there any day of the week you would NOT help them? Maybe Tuesday because you have dance after school, or Friday because you’ve got football practice, or Saturday because of gymnastics?  I hope you would help them every day and any day. We should always be ready to help those we love, no matter what day or what time.

          Jesus is trying to teach the Pharisees that same point today. He asks them if their son or their pet ox falls in a well, would they help them? The Pharisees would help them except on one day. Which day would they NOT help? Sunday! That’s the day of rest. But Jesus says you cannot rest from loving others, not even on Sunday. You should always be ready to help others, love others, no matter what day it is or what time it is.

          Last night at 11:30 p.m., I got a call to give someone the Last Rites because they were dying. Now, I was tired and already in bed, so what do you think I did? Raise your hand if you think I got up and went to visit that person. Raise your hand if you think I went back to sleep. I got up. Now, what virtue is that when you do something hard even when you don’t feel like it? Hint – it’s the virtue we’ve been learning all week! It’s the virtue of courage! Courage is the strength to love others even when you don’t feel like it, even when you’re tired and in bed, even if it’s Sunday, even if it’s 11:30 p.m., and even if it’s your little brother who needs help. That’s the definition of courage, when love is inconvenient.

          Praised be Jesus Christ!