Last week we heard Jesus tell his disciples, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” Indeed, we hear Jesus use the same words in today’s Gospel that the Torah uses in the first reading. “You shall not bear hatred; take no revenge; love your neighbor.” The difference is how the word neighbor was understood. In the book of Leviticus, neighbor meant your fellow citizen. What Jesus says-whether making a Samaritan the hero of the parable he used to answer the question “who is my neighbor?”, or saying “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” is a radical change. (Matthew 5:44)
“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” from Exodus 21:24, known as the lex talionis (law of retaliation), may seem like a defense of vengeance, but at the time it was considered a measured and moderate response. It was a civilized development over practices that allowed or even expected the wronged party to exact revenge way out of proportion to the initial injury. The lex talionis prohibits wanton revenge; Jesus prohibits revenge entirely.
Still, the last instruction Jesus gives, “Be perfect,” sounds impossible. Only God is perfect. We are human and are incapable of true perfection. And yet in our second reading Paul says, “the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Our challenge is to allow the Holy Spirit to come to full and perfect expression in us.
Jesus challenges us to turn the other cheek and to love our enemies. These are not instincts. It is not easy. We get angry, we are upset, we want to do or say something to express that pain and rage. As we approach the season of Lent, beginning this week with Ash Wednesday, February 26, (see bulletin for Mass and service times) let the example of Our Lord inspire us to respond to hurt and conflict with mercy and forgiveness.
Love, Peace, Joy
Fr. Bob
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