Gospel – February 23, 2020 – 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.”
Jesus is saying more is expected of us. Anyone can do what’s easy – loving your own, protecting what is ours – but can we go that extra bit?
Can I love the one who hurt my sister? Can I stand up for the one who spoke against me? Can I accept the one who took away my home and family and my safe place?
It is easy to love my family and friends, to protect what I love and to assist even those I do not know. Not so easy is doing that for someone who I know has hurt me or mine.
But God doesn’t hate. Go who sees all doesn’t segregate, separate nor will he persecute.
There is no hole so deep we can dig that God can’t, or won’t, come and lift us out.
We need to learn that.
At least that’s what I heard Him say…
