Monday of 11th Week in Ordinary Time, Yr. II: reflection

Theme: Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you (Mt 5:39)

Reading: Mt 5:38–42

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus continued with the amendment of the old laws, so that his followers, who will be bound by them, will be able to make positive impacts in the world.

He addressed the subject of retaliation today, advising his followers to be patient and tolerant with those who insult, offend and hurt them instead of seeking revenge.

The ancient law required people to take an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth in order to ensure proportionality in retaliation. But the people of the time of Jesus, as well as many people in our own time, preferred to interpret this law as calling for retaliation for wrongs committed against them. However, Jesus did not advocate for mandatory or proportionate retribution; instead, He commanded his apostles and all of us to forgo taking revenge for wrongs done to us.

Remarkable was the example used by Christ to drive home this beautiful lesson. He advised turning to the left as well if someone slaps your right cheek. We need to consider the location of the right cheek in order to comprehend the salient message here. If someone is facing you, his right cheek will be on your left side. Now, to slap that person on the right cheek, you must use your left palm or the dorsal side your right hand’s palm (the back of your right hand’s palm), which is equivalent to a double insult because only children can be slapped with the back of the hand’s palm or with the left hand. Hence, Jesus was saying we should not retaliate even when someone gives us a double insult, i.e. when someone mistreats us as if we are kids.

Dear Friends, today’s message is also a special call to all Christians who justify their vengeful actions by claiming to be hot-tempered or short-tempered. A true Christian will follow in the footsteps of Christ and his disciples, who did not fail to turn the other cheek to their attackers.

We often hear people say that revenge is sweet. But it is good to know that wrongs initiate a vicious circle of evil, which is reinforced by revenge. The vicious circle of evil cannot be ended by revenge, but by forgiveness. The only revenge that is complete is forgiveness.

May your new week be abundantly blessed. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima