Gospel – Matthew 5:38-48
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 as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand over your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Reflection on the Gospel
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
What Jesus teaches in this gospel is controversial.
It is extreme non-violence.
Students who are taught this often say, “So, we should do nothing?”
It is hard to say that this form of response is doing something radical.
It is a very different way of thinking than the world around us promotes.
The gospel passage on the day in which I compose this is the one in which Jesus says to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
In order to understand the message in this Gospel, I need to think as God does.
I am praying for the grace to do that.
Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Forever.