Thirtieth of Year A - Love my neighbour
October 2008
Last Tuesday at our R.C.I.A. meeting one of the questions which came up for discussion was ‘love your neighbour as yourself.’
I had a special interest because I knew that the theme for today’s Liturgy was ‘love the Lord your God and your neighbour as yourself.’
I knew that you had heard it all before and I was searching for something to say that would not be a big yawn for you. The following scenario came up for discussion.
I don’t know if you ever heard the saying describing someone as ’a street angel and a home devil.’ It is used in Ireland to describe someone who in his/her everyday relations with neighbours and friends is kind, polite and even tempered but at home is a terror to his/her marriage partner and children.
Such a person, outside the home, is regarded as the proper gentleman/gentlewoman but in the secrecy of their own home and family are abusive.
This abuse can range from always ignoring or contradicting or belittling the opinions of the marriage partner to outright verbal or physical abuse.
A person who is even tempered and polite outside the home can be prone to frightening and even uncontrollable fits of temper in the secrecy of their own home.
Hence the phrase ‘street angel and home devil.’
This type of behaviour can be and is quite common. When friends and neighbours eventually hear about it they find it hard to believe.
Loving one’s neighbour must begin at home. It can be reasonably easy to be polite and respectful to neighbours and friends. The real test of my love for my neighbour is the day in day out conduct, in my own home, with my own family.
Listening to an audio recording of an hour or two in my own home could well prove enlightening and embarrassing.