Two new members tonight and lots of laughter. So, in Matthew 5: 38-48, Jesus teaches two seemingly crazy ideas: Do not resist evil and Love thy enemy. Let's tackle this.
1. Teaching Against Retaliation
Jesus: You have heard an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
Q. An eye for an eye, etc. was in the Old Testament (Dt 19:21). It sounds barbaric but what did it really mean?
A. It wasn’t about vindictiveness but about limiting one’s response. If someone mistakenly cut off your finger, you could not respond by killing that person’s family. Your response had to match the crime.
Q. The same “eye for an eye” principle was also written in the Laws of Hammurabi, a Babylonian king who lived several hundred years before Moses. What was the difference between Moses’s version and Hammurabi’s?
A. The Code of Hammurabi has similarities but more differences. Hammurabi’s laws were closer to Draco (Draconian) and not as “just.” Hammurabi’s laws were to help people coexist with each other. Moses’s laws were how to get along with God. Moses dealt in the spiritual nature of man – for instance the cause of man’s evil being sin against God; whereas Hammurabi did not deal with this at all.
Jesus: But I say do not resist evil.
Evil requires an evil response to survive/grow. An evil response is like giving oxygen to fire. No good can come from it. Jesus proposes radical generosity, radical kindness, radical love in response to evil. Evil cannot survive very long in the face of love.
Q. The question was asked if we cannot respond to evil on a larger scale – such as an attack on one’s family.
A. Jesus’ teaching is on a person level. We cannot become a good people if we don’t become good individually. As for defending one’s family, the CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) says that Jesus was not teaching that protecting the innocent was wrong by any means. However, one should use no more force than is necessary.
2. Love of Enemies:
Jesus: You have heard you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy…
Q. Is “hate your enemy” in the Old Testament somewhere?
A. No. But the Jews hated the Samaritans and other enemies. “Love your neighbor” (Leviticus) was thought to only apply to their Jewish neighbors.
Jesus: But I say love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Q. How do we love our enemies?
A. Jesus is not talking about affectionate love, but agape love. Agape is an act of the will. So, instead of condemning those you dislike, talking trash about them, or contributing to other people’s hate, pray that God heals them (or you!). This is an act of Agape love.
Story of Jonah’s hate for the Ninevites…
Jesus: Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Q. Is he kidding? Nobody can be perfect. How could Jesus say such a thing?
A. Our understanding of perfection is different than in this passage. God also says in Leviticus 19:1-2 to be holy like God. Same meaning. To be holy is to put God on your inner throne instead of your ego. To try and be good, loving, kind, forgiving, and regularly communicate with God is to be holy and perfect. God will forgive the rest.
LENT - We discussed Lent starting tomorrow. The Church asks us to consider elevating our perfection and holiness :) by honing our will on the same three factors that caused the Fall of Man, which were also the same three Temptations of Christ in the dessert: 1) Desire for physical gratification (fast or give something up); 2) Desire for possessions (almsgiving = giving to the poor is the opposite of the desire for possessions); and 3) Increased Prayer - prayer is the opposite of pride because prayer implies you need God whereas pride says you don't need anyone.
Our Father – we covered “Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” I will send this later in the week.
Maranatha!
Ron
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