Revolution

I need to make sure that those around us are not only loved, but KNOW that they are loved.

Mother and Child (Christopher P Jones)

I have read a little bit about the French Revolution over the years.  I love to read and I have read Victor Hugo’s classic novel “Les Miserables” which tells the story of the French Revolution through the eyes of various people affected by it.

The French Revolution was a terrible thing.  Many many people were murdered during this turbulent time and the Church, and in fact all religion, was persecuted.

I am not saying that conditions – particularly for the poor were not difficult prior to the French Revolution – life was terrible for many many people, as the divide between rich and poor was so extreme that the rich were able to live in luxury while the poor starved to death and died of preventable illnesses due to their poverty.  When I am saying is that the way that those differences wee dealt with was terrible and sinful.

The invention of the guillotine encouraged beheading as a more humane way of executing perceived enemies of the state, because previous methods of using a sword were unreliable and often resulted in several blows to actually complete the execution properly, with additional suffering before the death of the person!

And when I think about revolution, I think about the changes involved.  And yet, what a revolution – a PEACEFUL one – could take place if all of us would just live our Christina values properly?  How wonderfully changed the world would be if we were truly Christian in our attitudes and behaviours!

Imagine if instead of losing my patience when somebody cut in front of me in traffic or in the parking lot, I would be able to reach peacefully instead of with anger!  Imagine the world where we frgave one another instantly.  No holding grudges or carrying hurt around inside of us poisoning our relationships.  Imagine how the world would function if I could love my enemy and do good to those who hate me. 

And what does loving my enemy look like?  It looks like LOVING – with true love – the people who harm me and wish to harm me.  It means LOVING – with real love – those who do not love me back or wish good things for me.  It is LOVING those people who we would never ordinarily like.  It is loving – with a SUPERHUMAN GRACE – the people and events that most hurt us.

It really looks like being kind and considerate all the time and never failing to give someone else the benefit of the doubt.  It is about making sure that people around us are comfortable with where we are leaving them and not causing them to feel that we do not care about them or want them to do well.  It is about making sure that those around us are not only loved, but KNOW that they are loved.

And when I think about that I can imagine to myself what a marvellous revolution that would really be!

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.