Gray on the Other Side

Text: Luke 14:1-6

Do you know anyone who is constantly on the watch for a misstep? You know, the ones who know the rules inside and out, and are just waiting for the violator to cross that line. The description seems to fit our cultural mood at times. In the media there are always diggers of dirt ready to blow whistles and sound sirens when someone of the opposing political party transgresses. And it doesn't matter whether it's Morley Safer on the left or Rush Limbaugh on the right. Jesus was all too familiar with the phenomenon. Pharisaical attitudes abound; most of us have been in their company as accomplices at one time or another.

But there is something about Jesus' disarming opening question: "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" Is it lawful? When asked by Jesus in this context, tables are turned. Is it okay to do something good? That's the kind of question we're not ready for. More frequently we ask whether something is lawful from the other side of morality--not whether something is good, which obviously is good, but whether something which probably is questionable or compromising at best, is REALLY sinful after all. We are far more prone to press the bounds of morality from the side of evil than from the side of good.

The Pharisees could make no response. Of course not. Instead of performing healing, loving, redemptive acts, they were looking for evil ones to point out in others. How are we doing on that score; how am I doing on that score? The problem of legalism is deeper than we sometimes think; it's not only a matter of fault-finding, but of virtue-refusing. When Paul told the Philippians to focus on the things good, beautiful, just, virtuous, and praise-worthy, he knew full well that this means giving up a focus on the real and imaginary transgressions of others. Today's reflection is a call to repent of seeking the violations of others, and to find and do the good which is not only lawful but redemptive.