“Fiddling while Rome burns” is an old expression meaning to be absorbed in lesser matters while vital and more important matters are ignored and unaddressed.
It’s associated with the Roman emperor Nero, no hero nor exemplary figure in our received history. Curiously, even the word “fiddling” by itself can also be used with a somewhat similar meaning.
Going back to Nero, how could the powerful head of the great Roman Empire have been so indifferent to the plight of the people of his burning capitol, so absorbed in his personal pleasures? You want to know how? It’s easy; look in the mirror!
How many times have we behaved somewhat like Nero? How often have we let ourselves be absorbed in our secondary matters, good though they may be, while leaving far more important and significant matters unattended to, matters involving the life and well-being of others who were trusting in our concern, aid, and care?
That’s Nero-like behavior!
May God forgive us for our selfishness and indifference to the plight of others—for our fundamentally flawed behaviors, for our selfish, self-centered concerns, for our frequent deafness, dumbness, and blindness.
Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
This wasn’t a mere suggestion by Jesus to his disciples for their personal growth and maturation, nor a guideline for a more responsible lifestyle.
Jesus was speaking in the persona of Moses when he said “I give you a new commandment.”
And, the commandments given by Moses were not his desires nor plans but the explicit will of God for his people.
“Love one another” is far more than a counsel to avoid “fiddling.” It is a direct, unavoidable demand and obligation. It requires our total commitment and even sacrifice.
It is the overriding, incontestable command of our Maker. It is the absolutely necessary guideline for each and every day of our lives!
Nero wasn’t a fire-fighter. He didn’t take any serious personal risks. Ultimately he was indifferent to the plight of so many others. He opted for his self-absorbing distraction of music-making, ignoring the life-threatening plight of his people. His behavior clearly contradicted the command of the Creator, as we understand it.
How Neronic are we, you and I?
I think there is a little bit of Nero in each of our lives, a temptation to ignore the plight of others who look to us for concern, for guidance, for help, for care.
“This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
You know, as good and as pious as you or I may be or think we may be, we may be seriously mistaken.
The early followers of Jesus chose death over ignoring his command. For them, there was no alternate behavior to “have love for one another.”
Every time we fail to obey Jesus’s new commandment we give counter-witness to his mandate, to the will of God.
That means that every time we fail to assist and support another as best we can we give counter-witness to this same mandate of Jesus, to the will of God.
Oh, Lord, burn all my violins if they have become more to me than your will. Help me always to love others as you have loved me!
12 February 2023