Tit for Tat Calculations

Scripture

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (Luke 23:32-34 NIVUK) 

Tit for Tat Calculations 

If the consequences weren’t so serious some of the discussion around the exchange of drones, shells and missiles between Iran and Israel would make a fine “Road Runner and Coyote” cartoon episode. One commentator assessed Israel’s limited salvo as “perfectly calculated tit for tat”.  

The human need to do something aggressive in response to another’s aggression is being played out on a large screen with thousands of lives at stake. I’ve got that in my genes – you hit me, and I’ll hit you harder. It’s taken decades of living to corral my caustic wit from being used as a weapon against another’s comments. It only leaves wreckage in its trail.  

My purported desire to be an imitator of Jesus gets tested at my foundations and yet it is no different on a global stage. If we had no need to respond with aggression to the aggressor perhaps the war of words, weapons and powers would end.  

Not many people are my enemy, but it’s easy in the competitions of life to attack rather than restore, to confront rather than reconcile. Jesus at the height of his suffering, when all the forces of humanity and evil were arrayed against him said “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing”. Most of the time it seems we don’t know what we are doing but forgiveness and reconciliation might help. 

A Prayer for Today

God of all humanity, in times of violence we see how inhuman we can be.
We pray for those who, today, are weighed down by grief.
We pray for those who, yesterday, were weighed down by grief.
And the day before, and all the days before the day before.
And we pray for those who help us turn towards justice and peace.
Turn us all towards justice and peace because we need it. Amen
(A Prayer in times of violence. Padraig O Tuama in “Daily Prayers with the Corrymeela Community)