Article September 29, 1986 Issue

To be a second miler

UDAI B. HOFFBERG

A friend had asked me to do an extreme favor. Outwardly I was gracious enough, but inwardly I was growling and knew I had to pray. I thought about going the second mile as Christ Jesus advised in his Sermon on the Mount.

In those days of Roman rule, a non-Roman was required by law to carry a Roman soldier's gear for one mile upon request. Jesus said to go with him voluntarily a second mile.

The Master defined brotherhood in terms of love that went beyond familiar and comfortable behavior. He spoke to people of Christly love—God's love reflected in daily grace; love so vigorous in goodness that the heart melted, thought opened, character straightened, and new life was breathed into deadened hopes. He spoke of this uncommon love in common terms. And he told his listeners, "Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain."^{Matt. 5:41.}

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