"17. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him…19. They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him.  20. After mocking him they stripped him of his purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him." Mark 15:17,19-20

   The effort to humiliate Jesus was an abject failure. Far from destroying Christ & his message the circle of thorns crowned the King of Love – the one who taught us that those who live love with holy humility will always triumph. 

   Still, there is nothing more difficult for Christians – especially the testosterone-driven – than to practice love in the presence of profound violence. Yet, that is the lesson we offer our children amid the fragrance of the Christmas tree & before the cross of sacrifice. 

   Before Jesus, ancient teachings encouraged "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." Christ instructed us to do something shocking: "Love your enemies" – even pray for them.

   His teachings are routinely misinterpreted. Only fools accept blows from enemies. But, Jesus did not oppose the idea that we protect ourselves. His love directed us toward disapproval of "the sin not the sinner."

   Love calls us to disapprove of violent acts not the actors. It also implores us to understand those who commit them…and, when appropriate, to seal them off from harming others. 

   What I learned in my days as a federal prosecutor and judge is that every time we condemn the personhood of the criminal (remember the "criminal" crucified with Jesus) instead of that person's actions we confuse & degrade our own humanity. It is a short step from there to blanketing entire groups with false labels.

   In 1861 Lincoln appealed to "the better angels of our nature." If his plea had been heeded by the slave-holding south the lives of millions would have been saved. 

   But, it is so tempting to scorn mean-acting people as subhuman. That is what makes the practice of love so hard.

   Perhaps, that is why we speak of practicing Christianity. True love is a daily challenge, a radical way to live in this world, and the highest expression of our being. 

-Reverend Erie Chapman