Jesus is not a magician dazzling the crowds, performing tricks for their amusement, weaving a gossamer web of lofty and convoluted teachings. No, for Jesus the mystical is grounded in the concrete choices and actions of ordinary life.
When someone in your community offends you (and notice he does not say if someone offends you, but when), here is what you shall do:*
1) Go to the person and try to settle the issue privately;
2) If this does not work, take a couple of others with you;
3) If this does not work, take the issue to the community;
4) If even this effort is unsuccessful, then go all out with the ultra-deluxe package –- treat the offender the same as I have told you to treat a pagan or a tax collector.
In other words, treat the offending person as one of your friends whom you love as much as yourself.
There is nothing magical about life together under the rule of love. Just keep widening the circle, going the extra mile, loving your enemy for the sake of unity in diversity. It is as simple and as difficult as that.
Life in community would be easy if it weren’t for the people.
Help me to love you, right here, right now.
