Gospel: Matthew
5:38-42
Jesus
said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye
and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is
evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him
as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your
cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him
for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on
one who wants to borrow."
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Reflection:
What will
we gain if we exact revenge to those who’ve aggrieved and injured us? Nothing
except further enmity and injury then at the end there will be no winners only
losers.
Take for
example conflicts in married life, if a wife would revenge for the injury that
was caused her by her husband say for example infidelity. The marriage covenant
will fall-apart and both parties including their children will end-up as
losers.
With this
new command to His disciples Jesus supersedes the law of retaliation and
Judgment written in the Old Testament (Leviticus and Deuteronomy).
Jesus
gives us valuable lessons on humility that can help us build bridges instead of
walls. This command of Jesus will also help us avoid conflicts and misunderstanding.
Can
we live these teachings of Jesus? If we abhor hostility, if we are humble and
if we truly love Jesus we would be able to live these teachings.
Mohandas
Gandhi an Indian icon of non-violent political resistance had said: “An eye for
an eye makes the whole world blind.” This simply means that nobody wins with
revenge, in the arena of life the more that we itch for revenge the more that
we destroy ourselves.
Instead
of exacting revenge why not put on the armor of Humility, why nor learn to pray
for those who’ve stepped on our dignity. This is very hard to follow but we
must follow because this is what Jesus is teaching us.
If we
would always retaliate to any injury done to us we would end up destroying
ourselves. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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