Radical Love: A Call for Compassion

The Radical Love of Jesus: A Call for Compassion

 
From the dusty plains of Galilee to the echoing halls of Jerusalem, Jesus’s teachings resonated with a radical message: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (NRSV, Matthew 22:39).  We can find similar teachings across history in all the core faiths of humankind.  For Christians, these words are more than something once said and written down; the words are part of the two greatest commandments of Christianity.
 
 
Hear what our Lord Jesus saith:
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great
commandment.  And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself.  On these two commandments
hang all the Law and the Prophets.    Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV).
 
 
This wasn’t mere piety but a compassionate call for social justice, echoing through the ages and finding a stark counterpoint in today’s headlines.  While the term “social justice” gained specific usage in the 19th and 20th centuries, the underlying principles of advocating for the marginalized, challenging unjust systems, and promoting equality find their roots in the teachings of Christ and the earliest Christian communities.  Early Christians, often facing persecution themselves, actively practiced radical hospitality, advocated for the poor and oppressed, and challenged the Roman authorities’ injustices.
 
This message of radical love and social justice remains strikingly relevant today.  Millions are on the move, driven from their homes by war, conflict, climate change, failing harvests, and economic despair.  In this tumultuous landscape, Jesus’s vision of compassion and justice offers hope, urging us to confront the root causes of global conflict and mass migrations and to embrace our shared humanity.  For Christians, no matter our faith-based affiliation or political leaning, this is a call to live by the tenets of our faith.
 
The parallels between Jesus’s teachings and current events are chilling.  Just as Jesus condemned the exploitation of the poor by the wealthy, we witness conflicts fueled by resource scarcity and unequal access to power.  His admonishment of religious leaders prioritizing legalism over compassion resonates with the plight of refugees caught in political machinations and bureaucratic hurdles.  His embrace of the marginalized resonates deeply with the faithful and the millions who risk dangerous journeys for safety and dignity.
 
Acting as the Good Samaritan transcends our cultural divides, urging readers to consider the humanity of the “other,” regardless of background.  Today, this parable compels us to see those seeking safety and refuge as our neighbors, echoing Jesus’s teachings on who our neighbor is.  (NRSV, Luke 10:36).  The answer, defying expectation, is not bound by nationality or ethnicity but by our shared responsibility to alleviate human suffering.
 
Equally relevant is the Cleansing of the Temple, where Jesus disrupts the exploitation of power.  This act resonates with contemporary debates about conflict within the world and climate change, where inaction by powerful nations forces millions from their homes due to war, rising sea levels, droughts, and extreme weather events.  Jesus’s call to accountability resonates with the need for urgent action on international conflicts and human violence, global warming, and climate change, recognizing our shared responsibility for the planet and its inhabitants.
 
But Jesus wasn’t just critiquing; he offered a vision of a more just world.  The Beatitudes, emphasizing peacemaking, challenge us to build a society based on empathy and shared humanity.  This vision translates into concrete action: welcoming refugees, addressing the root causes of conflict, and promoting sustainable practices that combat climate change and ensure food security.
 
The Judgment of the Nations, where Jesus identifies with the suffering and marginalized, compels us to see their faces in the crowds of migrants and refugees, calling us to act with compassion.  (NRSV, Matthew 25:46).  The Parable of the Sheep and Goats underscores the idea that true discipleship involves faith and action, particularly in caring for the marginalized and vulnerable members of society.  The “sheep” are praised for feeding the hungry, providing water to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and visiting prisoners.  The “goats,” on the other hand, are condemned for their failure to do these things.  Jesus concludes the parable by saying that those who performed these acts of kindness to the least of his brothers and sisters did it unto him, while those who neglected to do so neglected him.
 
39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’
 
44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”
 
This parable, and countless others, form the bedrock of a Christian call to social justice.  While the concept of social justice itself may be recent, the underlying principles – advocating for the vulnerable, challenging unjust systems, and promoting equality – are woven into the very fabric of the faith.  Jesus’s message isn’t confined to a distant past; it’s a living testament to the power of love and compassion, a call to action that resonates across cultures and generations.  
 
As Christians committed to amplifying diverse voices and tackling critical social issues, we find relevance and inspiration in the radical vision and love of Jesus.  In a world grappling with the chaos of war, human violence, and mass migrations, this vision is a reminder that pursuing justice and embracing our shared humanity isn’t just a moral imperative but also a peaceful and equitable future for all humankind.  As Jesus declared, “Seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.” (NRSV, Micah 6:8).  All Christians, as Christ’s followers, are encouraged to build up and uphold the Reign of God here on earth.
 

 
—Ron Starbuck, Publisher/CEO
Saint Julian Press, Inc. © 2024
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