Matthew 5:38-42

Meditation: If someone insults you or tries to take advantage
of you, how do you respond? Do you repay in kind? Jesus approached the
question of just retribution with a surprising revelation of God's intention
for how we should treat others, especialy those who mistreat us. When Jesus
spoke about God's law, he did something no one had done before. He gave
a new standard based not just on the requirements of justice – giving each
their due – but based on the law of grace and love. Jesus knew the law
and its intention better than any jurist or legal expert could imagine.
He quoted from the oldest recorded law in the world:
If any harm follows,
then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for
hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe
(Exodus 21:23-25). Such a law today seems cruel, but it was meant to limit
vengeance as a first step towards mercy. This law was not normally taken
literally but served as a guide for a judge in a law court for assessing
punishment and penalty (see Deuteronomy 19:18). The Old Testament is full
of references to the command that we must be merciful: You shall not
take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people,
but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the  LORD (Leviticus
19:18). If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is
thirsty, give him water to drink (Proverbs 25:21). Do not say, "I
will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he
has done" (Proverbs 24:29). Let him give his cheek to the smiter,
and be filled with insults (Lamentations 3:30).
Jesus does something quite remarkable and unheard of. He transforms
the law of mercy with grace and loving-kindness. Jesus also makes clear
that there is no room for retaliation. We must not only avoid returning
evil for evil, but we must seek the good of those who wish us ill. Do you
accept insults, as Jesus did, with no resentment or malice? When you are
compelled by others to do more than you think you deserve, do you insist
on your rights, or do you respond with grace and cheerfulness?
What makes a Christian different from everyone else? What makes Christianity
distinct from any other religion? It is grace – treating others,
not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated – with loving-kindness
and mercy. Only the cross of  Jesus Christ can free us from the tyranny
of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment and gives us the courage to
return evil with good. Such love and grace has power to heal and to save
from destruction. Do you know the power of Christ's redeeming love and
mercy?
"O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray, with the graces of your Holy
Spirit; with love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness,
humility, and self-control. Teach us to love those who hate us; to pray
for those who despitefully use us; that we may be the children of your
love, our Father, who makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sends rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant us grace to
be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; may we guard the door of our
lips; may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after
heavenly things; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Prayer
of Anselm, 1033-1109 AD)
This reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager (c) 2012, whose website is located at http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings

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Robin K Brookes
69 Beresford Road
LOWESTOFT
NR32 2NQ  UK