Tuesday Sermon: Grace, Judgment and Karma

          Hinduism and Buddhism both use the word "karma" when it comes to how one's life is balanced.  Now, keep in mind, one's "life" may span many reincarnations, so what happens in this particular incarnation may be effected by past incarnations.  It gets a bit confusing.

          Today's Gospel lesson is about the concept of grace and judgment – both granted by God.  Grace is defined as unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification.  We can't earn it or ask for it – we can just be grateful for it, and learn to see it in our daily lives.  Judgment, on the other hand, gets a bit more complex. 

          On the one hand, we're told, "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged."  In today's Gospel, a man granted grace – unmerited favor – and having his debts forgiven, then exercised judgment against those who owed him money, they being in the exact same position he had just been in.  In doing so, he did not learn or gain any wisdom from having been granted grace, and thus earned judgment himself.

          Many these days would say that karma balanced the scales within the man's own lifespan.  The Golden Rule, versions of which you will find in almost every religion, applies here – that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us.  Now interestingly, the Golden Rule was initially codified in Hammurabi's Code as a method of establishing equality through retribution:  "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."  About 400 years before Christ arrived, Plato felt there was no point in ever seeking vengeance on someone:  "One should never do wrong in return, nor mistreat any man, no matter how one has been mistreated by him." 

          Christ, on the other hand, emphasized the law of love that had been codified within Jewish law – that we love our neighbors as ourselves.  Now, Christ expanded the Jewish law in the definition of "neighbor" or "brother", but it originated in Leviticus, Chapter 19:  "You must not hate your brother in your heart. You must surely reprove your fellow citizen so that you do not incur sin on account of him. You must not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people, but you must love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."  As an aside, it is interesting to note that "I am the Lord" is a phrase used 160 times in the Old Testament – 49 of which are in Leviticus, but where they are placed is a fascinating study.

          So back to the Gospel today.  We're provided examples of grace and examples of consequences for one's choices.  On the one hand, having your debt forgiven is grace – you did nothing to warrant that.  On the other hand, you incurred the debt, and therefore, the consequence is that you must repay the debt.  We would hope that when given grace – forgiveness - we would share that with those who have incurred debts – trespasses.  This particular parable is entirely about the Great Commandment and the Lord's Prayer.  Given how often Christ taught these lessons in different ways, it is imperative that we pay attention to both.