Choose blessings not curses

The apostle Paul writes 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” (Rom 12:14-21).

Schoolchildren hold a portrait of Bl Teresa of Kolkata during a candlelight prayer ceremony. In her column, Judith Turner takes her inspiration from Mother Teresa. (Photo: Rupak De Chowhuri, Reuters/CNS)

Every single day we are called to do the above.

When we look at the world around us, on all the stages of life; relationships, politics, economics, church, workplaces—we are asked to choose life above death/evil. But what is asked of us here goes against our grain of human nature.

When someone hurts me, I want to hurt back—those who hurt me must experience what I have experienced.  When others get away with doing wrong—I want to justify my wrong-doing by saying that others also do it.  When we see irregularities in our companies and organisations, we tend to ignore or not get involved.  When relationships break down, it is difficult for us to take the first move towards reconciliation, because we are not “the wrong one”. And so it goes on.

We will never be able, on our own, to rise above and to do what God wants us to do. We will be able to act according to Paul’s words only by knowing with our whole beings that what we are asked to do for others, is what God has already done for us.

Mother Teresa’s words are always inspiring, motivating and encouraging us to stay focused and to realise what really matters. She says:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centred. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

These words cut to the heart of spiritual life. They make it clear what it means to choose life, not death, to choose blessings not curses.