(I’m still noodling about how best to take positive, effective actions to meet the challenges of the coming days in our nation’s history. Today another thought, arising from Hebrews 10:24. “Let us consider how to *provoke one another to love and good deeds.” [NRSV])
Buried in the middle of Lectionary 33 (the 26th Sunday after Pentecost, Cycle B), the sentence above encourages one way of thinking about seemingly insurmountable difficulties in our national ethos. I already knew that “provoke” had an original meaning that was positive/hopeful, so when I heard that text again, my mind raced ahead to the question, “What would ‘provoking one another to love and good deeds’ look like in real time?”
What I imagined were people—like you or me—who could call forth or challenge other folks to find and exemplify their best selves. Who could sidestep antagonistic arguments and emotional hijackings in order to connect with others. Who, by their relationships and conversations, could motivate those around them to actions and attitudes infused with grace, love and kindness. Who could inspire people they know toward loving attitudes and good deeds.
Picturing a hopeful outcome was one thing, but the question remained, “What would that look or sound like?” This possible scene came to mind:
You or I have just extended kindness, mercy, help or understanding to someone who’s perhaps enmeshed in righteous anger, mindless hate or bitter despair. That person thanks us for our action(s). We respond graciously with something like, “You’re welcome; I hope/know/trust you would do the same for me.”
The provocation: Our spoken assumption that this person could recognize their own ability to benefit others. That our example would settle into the part of their soul that still wants to serve God’s will, to follow Christ’s invitation to love one another.
Going forward, I want to stay alert for situations where I might have the opportunity to help others to find their better angels and forsake what may be dragging them down.
This feels like a good way to be provocative…!
*Some of the current synonyms for provoke—such as annoy, irritate, vex, aggravate, incite, antagonize—don’t carry the strongly positive meaning of the original Latin term, provocare—to call forth, challenge. Sometimes the first meaning can be the most useful….
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