Fr. Joeven Matugas sx
In this part of the Gospel (Mt. 5:38-48), Jesus quotes the law of retaliation (lex talionis) which was allowed in the old Law “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” (Lev 24:20 Exo 21:24). In his new teaching, he tells his disciples not to resist the one who is evil. Not to fight evil actions by countering them with evil. Instead, fight evil through good. For Jesus evil actions are to be always abhorred.
The word of Jesus challenges our human culture and condition. It is easier for us people to get angry and retaliate than to give way to good. The justice that Jesus establishes is not of this world. The new kingdom that he has introduced and now manifests itself is the kingdom of mercy, love and justice. We are grateful that to us believers Jesus taught mercy and justice. Because in this way, we live in a world that is able to give chance to forgiveness and peace. It is hard to actualize his teachings but this has visible moral and contextual applications.
The second part of the Gospel concerns the love for enemies. For Jesus the enemy should not be hated. The enemy should be loved. The enemy should be prayed for. This law goes beyond that of the old covenant. This law has to be extended not only beyond the confines of friendship, relatives and tribes, in order to reach even the enemies, the persecutors, the gentiles. If the disciples do this, and we too, we shall become sons and daughters of our Father in heaven.
This newly proposed law of love is, however, demanding. In this way Jesus tells his disciples to be dependent entirely on the mercy of God. Loving the enemy is beyond our human capacities and limitations. The law of love, according to human nature, is to love those who love us, to return love. According to Jesus his disciples must do more than the gentiles do. They are not to wait for the rewards of love. For Jesus the enemy and the persecutors should be loved and prayed for.
The last sentence of the Gospel says, “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. Jesus makes it possible for us to be perfect. He makes us complete through his incarnation and resurrection. We have a taste of heaven through his power and grace. Though human we are, we are able to pick up the bits and pieces of our broken lives, and reassemble all over again the missing pieces in order to make our life whole and complete.
In this part of the Gospel (Mt. 5:38-48), Jesus quotes the law of retaliation (lex talionis) which was allowed in the old Law “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” (Lev 24:20 Exo 21:24). In his new teaching, he tells his disciples not to resist the one who is evil. Not to fight evil actions by countering them with evil. Instead, fight evil through good. For Jesus evil actions are to be always abhorred.
The word of Jesus challenges our human culture and condition. It is easier for us people to get angry and retaliate than to give way to good. The justice that Jesus establishes is not of this world. The new kingdom that he has introduced and now manifests itself is the kingdom of mercy, love and justice. We are grateful that to us believers Jesus taught mercy and justice. Because in this way, we live in a world that is able to give chance to forgiveness and peace. It is hard to actualize his teachings but this has visible moral and contextual applications.
The second part of the Gospel concerns the love for enemies. For Jesus the enemy should not be hated. The enemy should be loved. The enemy should be prayed for. This law goes beyond that of the old covenant. This law has to be extended not only beyond the confines of friendship, relatives and tribes, in order to reach even the enemies, the persecutors, the gentiles. If the disciples do this, and we too, we shall become sons and daughters of our Father in heaven.
This newly proposed law of love is, however, demanding. In this way Jesus tells his disciples to be dependent entirely on the mercy of God. Loving the enemy is beyond our human capacities and limitations. The law of love, according to human nature, is to love those who love us, to return love. According to Jesus his disciples must do more than the gentiles do. They are not to wait for the rewards of love. For Jesus the enemy and the persecutors should be loved and prayed for.
The last sentence of the Gospel says, “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. Jesus makes it possible for us to be perfect. He makes us complete through his incarnation and resurrection. We have a taste of heaven through his power and grace. Though human we are, we are able to pick up the bits and pieces of our broken lives, and reassemble all over again the missing pieces in order to make our life whole and complete.