Now more than ever we need to find the courage to do more good in our country. Sometimes we get weary of doing good. It can become easier to stay seated as things deteriorate. It’s easy to turn away and give up. It’s tough to keep standing up to do good. Especially when it’ll cost you. But with the way things are these days, together we need to keep finding the courage to do good anyway.
We see in the gospel according to Mark that Jesus didn’t shy away from doing good, even when it cost him. In one case, when Jesus restored the shriveled hand of a man in a synagogue on the Sabbath, the religious leaders started plotting how to kill Jesus.
There was immense social pressure on Jesus to not heal this man on the Sabbath in the synagogue. Jesus challenged them anyway: “‘Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ But they remained silent.” It made Jesus “angry and deeply distressed” to watch people stubbornly sit on the sidelines and not care enough.
We have to decide ahead of time: am I going to do good and save more lives no matter if those around me do nothing?
Think about what this means for your life at home, with family and friends, with neighbors and coworkers, fellow citizens and strangers. To listen, to share, to respond to lies with truth, to be vulnerable, to resist evil, to forgive, to give compassion, to walk with – this is more than just being polite and nice, this is doing good that saves, heals, and rescues.
We can’t have courage out in the world if we won’t show it at home.
The more material comforts we accumulate, the more power and social prestige we attain, the more advancements and accolades we desire, the greater the temptation we will avoid doing good that requires courage. We’ll do the good that fits within our schedule or career track, but we’ll stay seated and silent when it comes to doing good that could get us misunderstood, mocked, or plotted against.
What if Jesus is stirring in you a desire to stand up and do more good that saves more lives in our community?
Jesus knew that his healing of the man with the shriveled hand would get him in trouble with the religious and political leaders. The man with the shriveled hand got healed, but he also may have gotten a new set of hardships. But: what’s the point of doing good? To stay out of trouble? Or: to save life and bring healing, in the way of Jesus, to those who are struggling?
Jesus knew his mission: to embody the good news of God through his wise words and healing actions. This mission changed the lives of individual men and women, but also challenged the sinful structures of society – religious, economic, political, and militarily (they’re always intertwined). So it is for Jesus followers still today.
This poem was found in the walls of Mother Teresa’s home in Calcutta, where she daily demonstrated courage to care for the least of these in her country while challenging the system. May it inspire you to join Jesus in the restoration of the shriveled hands and stubborn hearts of our country.
“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
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.”
May Christ grant you the courage to do what is good, everyday.
