This Sunday the second reading is from St. Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. We’ll read the entire passage on Sunday. But here’s the part that sticks with me:

If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.

This past weekend my daughter Colleen visited from Reno so that meant two trips to O’Hare. I drive on the expressways in the area often, but going in and out of O’Hare is another story! I hadn’t been there in several months and was shocked by the rudeness of people driving! By the time I left there on Monday afternoon I’ll bet my blood pressure was sky high! I just don’t understand how people can be so selfish and rude. Well, the church in Rome must have had a problem with the same thing. Paul says, "don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

A few weeks ago, Jim and I were on our way over to church and had stopped by McDonald’s for a Diet Coke. There were two drive up ordering lanes and we were in the outer one. I completed my order and pulled into the line to the window. The “gentleman” in the inner lane completed his order and then literally almost drove into me. Obviously, he thought he should be ahead of me in line. He honked and swore at me. When I got to the window, I handed the cashier my debit card and said, “I’d like to pay for the gentleman behind me. Obviously, he’s more important and has someplace he has to get to quickly. The cashier grinned at me. As I pulled to the pickup window, I looked in my rearview mirror as the guy tried to pay for his order, but the cashier had explained I had already taken care of it. I wish I could have had a picture of his face. 

It made me feel good to not only take the high road, but I did exactly what Paul told the Romans to do… "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Now, I don’t know about the burning coals bit, but if nothing else I hope the gentleman might have had a moment of realization that it is possible to be nice to people …  "don’t be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good."

See you Sunday!