“Bless, do not curse” (Romans 12:14)
The story goes that a lady, let’s call her Madame Gerda here, holding a
neighbour’s baby in her arms, had the misfortune to drop the baby. Injured
from hitting a vase, the child suffered brain damage and was paralyzed for
life.
The baby’s mother cursed Madame Gerda, wishing her fingers to rot. Her
husband offered to pay large damages in compensation, but the baby’s
mother refused and repeated her curse.
The curse came true, and the unfortunate lady later began to feel severe
pains in her fingers. The extremities turned white, then blue. It was the
onset of necrosis, known as Raynaud’s disease. Physical trauma can be the
cause, especially in women with a fragile nervous constitution and the
fingers had to be amputated.
In another story, a prisoner, also locked up in a dungeon shared his story
with a cellmate: “When I was six, I beat up a schoolmate just because he was
Jewish. He then cursed me: ‘May your mother never see you beside her
deadbed.’ Fifty years have passed since then, and just before I was arrested,
I learned that my mother was dying.” The curse had been fulfilled.
And there are other similar cases.
Today, we see that some parents do not hesitate to curse their own children.
That is why it is important to remember that, as parents, we owe it to
ourselves to respect the duties incumbent upon us and to take into account
the importance of our parental responsibilities.
Let us not be distracted by anger, even if we are sometimes overwhelmed by
our children’s behavior.
Curses have their effects, but so do blessings.
Jesus said: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those
who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat and persecute you” (Mat.
5:44).
Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. (Rom. 12:14).
If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink; for in so doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head
(Rom. 12:20).
To heap coals of fire on someone’s head is a metaphor or figurative
expression.
Coals soften metal. In the same way, the act of kindness towards an enemy,
returning good for evil, will awaken his remorse, tenderize his insensitivity,
separates the impurities from him and brings out the good in him.
Charitable works, that is, good deeds performed in the Fire of the Holy Spirit,
which St. Paul invites us to do freely in favor of our enemy, are intended to
“melt” his heart, to purify it of the dross of malice that prevents him from
conversion.
Which side are we on? The one who curses, or the one who blesses?
It’s easier to curse than to bless. In the same way, it’s easier to be violent
than non-violent.
Jesus invites us to go through the narrow gate : the gate of blessing.
So dear brothers, don’t curse, but bless!