Especially for blokes

“This commandment of love really does say everything that Jesus has to convey from his intimacy with the Father. Jesus has brought the commandment of love to earth from the Father. It supersedes all previous revelation, because “the other law was indeed given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). (Pagola, J. (p428)).

Have we failed to grasp the central tenet of Christianity? How simple Jesus’ message, yet how complicated we make it!

Whatever was the understanding (or misunderstanding), limitations or experience of the Old Testament law, that’s exactly what Jesus came to deal with. The old rules are superseded! The whole point of his incarnation and life among us is to convey his command, the Creator’s command: “Love one another!”

Old or young, male, and female, Jesus tells us that we are loved equally by our Creator. (John 15:9-17). Implicit in that there is no room for physical, sexual or emotional violence or domination; control or manipulation in Jesus’ model.

Particularly, Jesus’ call to love might be directed at men, reminding them (us) that pro-actively loving one another requires all to be alert for signs of domestic violence in our communities. Whatever might have applied in the past, Jesus’ teaching here compels us to courageously call out abuse of male privilege, economic abuse, coercion and threats, intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation and any minimizing and denial of abuse.

Awareness of domestic violence demands that men stand together with women, pinpointing precursors of domestic violence such as prevalence of pornography, alcohol abuse and gambling. Families must set example to children and young people of men cherishing the women (and the men) in their lives and living respectfully, equally and lovingly with each other.

We pray that we and our community may stand for victim survivors of domestic violence.  

Deacon Mark Kelly