Mastering Evil with Good

November 2, 2010

The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans: “Bless your persecutors; never curse them, bless them. … Never pay back evil with evil. … Never try to get revenge. … If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if thirsty, something to drink. … Do not be mastered by evil, but master evil with good” (Romans 12:14-21).  These words cut to the heart of our life with Christ.  They make it clear what it means to choose life, not death; to choose blessings, not curses.  But what is asked of us here goes against the grain of our human nature.  In fact, we will only be able to act these virtues out in our own lives once we know with our whole beings that what we are asked to do for others is only what God has already done for us.