Tit for Tat

The phrase "tit for tat" has again featured in the news throughout much of this week. It is common parlance at certain times in diplomatic language. And this slightly unfortunate sounding phrase "tit for tat" has an unlikley equality about it. Indeed if an action is tit for tat it is basically a form of retaliation rooted in a decent kind of equality.

During the Cold War tit for tat explusions of diplomats frequently represented the ire and frustration of governments against each other. Similar activity has been reported between Britain and Iran this week. And yet, there is a precedent that such action usually prevents further deterioration in relations and for compromise to be reached through disagreement.

Such eqivalent forms of retaliation, are by their nature, and I mean this positively, childlike. Those of us with brothers and sisters who bothered us in our childhood frequently resorted to the well trodden path of “well she did it to me” which suggests there is every good reason for you to do it back to her.

I am no student of law but it would seem to me that giving back in measure what an individual has meted out to others is at the very heart of most sentencing structures laced with a certain degree of punishment.

The actual point when retaliation becomes futile or meaningless is when its effects are neutralised. Whilst there is any hope that common sense might be prevailed upon – it is always worth a go. But there does come a point when recognising error means that no form of retaliation is either possible or justified.

New Testament theology wrestles continuously with the battle between what is frequently described as law and grace. In the Gospels Jesus is continuously put on the spot – your neighbour does this – what should you do; the sinner does that: what is my response to it; I have been offended like this – what is my reaction to be?

The most famous response of Jesus comes in the Gospel of Matthew when he quotes the Code of Hammurabi "you have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" and then introduces a quite radically different alternative: if someone strike you, sue you or steal from you - don't engage in tit for tat at all - have pity on the other person, withdraw as a way towards the perfection which is seen in God alone but to which we should all aim.

But there are countless of examples of where the opposite of tit for tat - a firm conviction in what I believe to be right as part of a greater and better set of values being enough to simply stick to what I believe and let the other side get upset, frustrated, flustered because of the strength of my own conviction is not only admirable - but also highly effective.

St Mary Abbots 27th Jan 6.30pm

Notes from the address given:

Luke 4.14-21

Jesus returns to his home town of Nazareth and reads from the Old Testament

FF Bruce simple book
"The Time is fulfilled"

Jesus choses the text from Isaiah

1. This is a fulfillment era
2. Message of the Kingdom
3. The Son of Man - about to be revealed
4. Christ as the Lord of Time

What is our response to fulfillment time?

Power of the sacred text is highlighted.

But we receive forgiveness through the words of Jesus.

First cold of the winter

It happens every year.

That fatal sense of "here it comes" as the eyes get thicker and the voice goes croaky.

Good old cold remedies.

At time to catch up!

First National Express Train

After years of travelling on GNER and having mixed views about the serice, I am writing this on my first ever National Expression Train journey to Doncaster - en route to Rotherham. Not sure why but it feels exactly the same!! Except for the rainbow outside my train window!

Cardinal Hume

Prayerful insights
The “prayerful insights” of Cardinal Basil Hume are edited into a useful Lenten anthology in Darton, Longman & Todd’s “A Turning to God” which has recently been published. Editor Patricia Hardcastle Kelly has taken relevant chunks of Hume wisdom to ensure that whether on the bus, train or sitting in the conservatory, you can digest a meaningful thought or point each and every day in Lent.

Saturday, in the first week of Lent, for instance, takes the theme Preparing for Perfection. Hume’s take is: “Religion without the love of God is cold and unreal, it becomes burdensome. The love of God, love of our neighbours: that is at the heart of it all.” Two weeks later it is the humility of the sinner which preoccupies Cardinal Hume until, as we arrive on Palm Sunday, we explore the following argument: “It is not always easy for all of us to spend Holy Week as a special week, thoughtfully and prayerfully. But as far as we can we should plan now to steal time out of a busy life, just to re-read the story of the Passion, and think about it in a prayerful and loving way.”

You can see Cardinal Hume’s wry smile as he encourages on through the sufferings of the present time to the eternal glory in this gem of a little book.

The Bee Movie

A great afternoon out with Kids' Club from St MA.

Watched the harmless but highly amusing Bee Movie - will never swot one again!

Pizza Hut - and then a quiet night in!

Fulham 1 Chelsea 2

Great way to spend New Year's Day.

Long walk along the Thames' Path and then great seats for the Fulham v Chelsea match and Jonathan's first ever premiership game.

Good match - Chelsea below par in the first half but showed their class in the second.

Nice lunch in Hammersmith - then a snooze followed by a catch up on some DVds - Bourne Conspiracy.

Quieter week planned - after a great start to 2008