Christ Speaking With the Disciples
Georg Pencz, 1500-1550
Dear friends,
I am delighted to reflect on a passage from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 10, verses 34-39. These verses are among the most challenging and thought-provoking in the Christian scriptures, and they invite us to consider the wisdom of impermanence and the practice of love, compassion, and equanimity.
In this passage, Jesus says,
I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
These words may seem harsh and difficult to understand at first glance, but they contain a profound truth about the nature of existence: The wisdom of impermanence teaches us that everything in life is constantly changing and evolving, including our relationships with loved ones and our own sense of self. We cannot cling to any one person or thing as a source of permanent security or happiness, for everything is subject to change and decay.
When Jesus speaks of setting a man against his father and a daughter against her mother, he is highlighting the inevitability of conflict and separation in our lives. We cannot avoid pain and loss, but we can choose how we respond to them. The practice of love, compassion, and equanimity can help us navigate these challenges with grace and wisdom.
Love is the foundation of all spiritual practice, and it is the key to resolving the dilemmas presented in this passage. When we love someone, we naturally want to protect and care for them, but we must also recognize that our love cannot prevent their suffering or ensure their happiness. We must learn to love without attachment, recognizing that our loved ones are also subject to the same impermanence and change that we are.
Compassion is the natural outgrowth of love, and it enables us to connect with others' pain and suffering. When we cultivate compassion, we open our hearts to the suffering of others, and we become more willing to offer support and comfort. Compassion also helps us to let go of our own fears and attachments, allowing us to respond to difficult situations with greater clarity and wisdom.
Equanimity involves freedom from attachment (grasping and clinging) and aversion (fear and hatred), which allows us to love all beings, including our loved ones and ourselves, equally. When we cultivate equanimity, we are not attached to any particular person or thing, including our spiritual practice, represented by Jesus. This allows us to approach our relationships and our spiritual path with a clear and balanced mind.
This freedom from attachment and aversion also allows us to hold all beings, including our loved ones and ourselves, with a sense of loving-kindness and compassion. We can recognize and honor the unique qualities and gifts that each being brings to the world, and we can offer support and encouragement to all those we encounter.
Ultimately, the practice of equanimity helps us to see the interdependence and interconnectedness of all beings, and it reminds us that our own spiritual journey is intimately connected with the well-being of others. By cultivating equanimity, we can bring greater peace, joy, and harmony into our own lives and into the world around us.
The wisdom of impermanence and the practice of love, compassion, and equanimity offer a powerful solution to the dilemmas presented in this passage. When we embrace these teachings and practices, we can navigate life's challenges with greater ease and grace, and we can offer love and support to those around us, even in the midst of conflict and difficulty. May we all strive to cultivate these qualities in our own lives, and may we find peace and happiness in the midst of life's impermanence.