Word to the Wise
Monday, June 17, 2019 - Monday in the 11th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Cor 6:1-10 and Matt 5:38-42]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 to him as well. [Matthew]
Of all Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, this one probably gives rise to more "What if....." questions than any other! Some folks simply say, "C'mon Jesus, get real!" It does take a lot of courage to tell the Son of God that he doesn't know what he's talking about! Or maybe, the guy who wrote this gospel was misquoting Jesus, who really said...….
The sad fact, borne out by everyday experience, is that violence begets violence. And when one hears people in political, or worse, religious, leadership espousing violence as a matter of political or religious policy one can only wonder if Jesus' message will ever reach the human heart. All I can say to people who claim to be good Christians but ignore the plain words of the Sermon on the Mount is, "Consider who said them, and prepare your response!" AMEN