Jesus,
in his Sermon on the Mount, continues to shock and stun the crowd by turning
the old social order upside down.
“You have heard it said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
But I say to you, do not retaliate against someone who has hurt you. When
someone strikes you on your right cheek, offer the other one as well.”
I can almost hear St Peter’s response, “Jesus, you have got to be
kidding me!”
The
Old Testament commandment of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth was
meant to moderate the extent of righteous retaliation. The retaliation from the
injured person should not exceed the injury itself. But Jesus gives the people
gathered on the hillside that day, and through them us, a whole new mindset: Forget
disproportionate retaliation; there shall be no retaliation at all!
As
hard this is for us to hear, Jesus wasn’t kidding around. He really meant what
he said. He proved this by submitting to death on the cross at the hands of
evil men. But what does this mean for you and for me?
We each
have to answer that question for ourselves; but by choosing to live as Jesus
calls us to live, we will find peace and wholeness and, ultimately, eternal
life with God.
If we
are carrying around any anger or bitterness or a desire for revenge, today is a
very good day to let it go.
………………………………………………………………………………..
Readers
of this blog might enjoy these books by Deacon Lex. Both are available on
Amazon.com:
Just to Follow My Friend: Experiencing God’s Presence in Everyday
Life
Synchronicity as the Work of the Holy Spirit: Jungian Insights for
Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Ministry
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