Extending Grace
LENT 2023 | DAY 11
Matthew 5:38-42 (NIV)
(David Mok, Chairperson, Data Analytics)
READ:
Matthew 5:38-42 (NIV)
DAILY REFLECTION:
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is amazing beyond words. It can be baffling to the uninitiated, but at the same time, it is so profound to those who appreciate it. Where is the common sense to give more than what someone sues you for? Or when coerced, how is it logical to do more than what is demanded of you? I was reminded of this seemingly incomprehensible logic when I watched the musical, Les Misérables. In the play, Jean Valjean had stolen silverware from the priest. When Valjean was caught and brought to the priest, the priest told the police that he had given Valjean the silverware as a gift. To top off the act of grace, the priest gave even more silverware to Valjean.
Justice and fairness are great virtues. But Christ tells us that these values, when used alone, are inadequate. They are to be hung on the two paramount commandments of loving God and loving one another. In doing so, unconditional grace emerges.
It took me a while to understand my mother’s act of grace when I was a child. She had lent her brother a considerable sum of money that I thought our family could ill afford. I knew that my uncle could not repay the money, thus it was foolish to part with cash that would not be returned. We were not well-off then and I had to borrow money from the bank for my tertiary education. Being raised to observe justice and fairness, I was certainly upset.
It was not until later in my adult life when I understood God deeper that I finally understood the meaning of grace – the extension of His unmerited favour towards someone undeserving like myself. On a much smaller scale, I recognised that it was grace that my mother had shown to my uncle. Without grace, our world would be a very cold and exacting place.
If I am to love God, I will need to wrap my responses to my family and others in love. As grace was freely given to me, I must show grace to others. It is not easy as I still struggle with fairness. However, I find that it gets easier after much practice in showing grace. I will continue to welcome foster kids to our home even though it is sometimes inconvenient. I will go the extra mile for members of our church family who are in need. May our Lord have mercy on me and grant me strength to press on.
FAMILY DISCUSSION POINTERS:
1. How different does it look when your judgements based on justice and fairness are also hung on the commandments of loving God and loving your neighbour?
2. How would you extend grace towards someone whom you think is undeserving, even someone in your own family?
3. What are some things you can do to go the extra mile for someone in need?
