We had six weeks of drought. Now it seems the rain will not stop (since we are waiting for dry weather in order to complete the sealing of our patio pavers).
So, I thought of the Peanuts cartoon where Linus tells Charlie Brown who is once again in the depths of despair, “It rains on the just and the unjust alike.”
Turns out that is an actual quote from Jesus unlike so many sayings we toss around.
This one took me to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 5, the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
What’s the point of this teaching? So that you may be children of your Father in heaven. And again, Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
It pays dividends to look beyond the aphorism. To look at what Jesus is trying to tell us. Beyond a simple “it rains on everyone” is that we are to treat people the same regardless of anything. That does not mean treat everyone equally poorly. It means treat everyone as a perfect person just as God is perfect.
That, friends, is a high bar.
Faith Venture 
Leave a comment