Today's Reflections
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Mt 5:38-42
[Jesus said to his disciples,] 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But
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. 40If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. 41Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. 42Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”
Reflection:
Offer no resistance.
Putting aside the Old Testament teaching of retaliation (lex/jus
talionis—Lv 24:20) meant to moderate vengeance so that the punishment
would not exceed the injury done, Jesus gives his disciples the greater
demands of love. They are not to retaliate at all. Love means returning
good for evil, blessing for curse, and praying for those who inflict us
pain. A graphic illustration of this is his injunction, “When someone
strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.”
The disciples are not to resort to
violence. Love means being ready to sacrifice and to renounce revenge.
To love to the full is to give up even our rights. As Jesus illustrates
it, “If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him
your cloak as well.”
The disciples are not to put limits on
doing good. Jesus says, “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.” Love is doing good at
all times and for everyone. Love is giving the best and to the maximum.
If someone strikes you on your right cheek, do you believe you can turn the other one to him as well?
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