On Retaliation and Love

On Retaliation and Love

Mt 5: 38 – 48

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction

In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains two laws that speak about retaliation and love. Jesus explains these two laws and ultimately points to love as the real goal of these laws.

The Gospel

⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; ⁴⁰ and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; ⁴¹ and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. ⁴² Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,^[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Reflection

In today’s reading, Jesus deals with two important laws enshrined in the Old Testament. These are laws that govern retaliation and love for one’s neighbor.

Regarding the law of retaliation, Jesus quotes a passage from the Old Testament that is cited in the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy which describes a kind of regulatory framework for retaliation, which states: “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”

            At first glance, this might surprise us and may come across as quite offensive for the modern mind. But at the time when this law was promulgated, it was thought to have given retaliation a legal framework that was just. Demanding that an eye be paid for an offense committed against someone else’s eye establishes a system of penalties commensurate to the offenses committed. Morally, therefore, this law satisfies the demands of justice despite its unsettling and crude language.

But Jesus gives this law a different meaning and interpretation. He completely takes away any notion of retaliation or revenge. The law of retaliation in the Old Testament oddly, somehow tolerated violence. But in Jesus’ mind, violence was out of the question. We are told to offer no resistance to anyone who is evil; we are to turn the other cheek to anyone who strikes us on one cheek; we are to offer our cloak to those who demand our tunic; we are to go the extra mile for those who ask us to walk for one mile and we are to give those who would want to borrow something from us. 

Jesus’ new interpretation gives us an overall sense of not resorting to violence and not to actively resist whatever injustice is done to us. Jesus exhorts us to take the path of non-violence and to willingly forego whatever offenses have  been done to us, all for the purpose of eventually winning over the offending party and pursuing everything for the sake of peace.

Regarding the second law which governs our relationship with our neighbor, Jesus has this to say: “ love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” At a time when it was common to hate one’s enemies, Jesus insists that love should never be bounded by the law of reciprocity; a law which tells us to love only those who love us and hate those who hate us. Jesus, instead tells us that love is meant for all and is never conditioned by anything. In loving unconditionally, we become perfect as God himself who is perfect love.

By distilling the law to its bare essence, Jesus shows us once again that the path to the fulfillment of the law is ultimately love. Love will always be at the heart of God’s laws and commandments. So loving people, doing what is right for them, being fair, kind and compassionate; being hopeful that they would in the end, know and seek what is good are just some of the attitudes that a true loving person has.

And who is he who truly loved and never sought retaliation for the wrong done to him? Only Jesus. He was one who never retaliated against his enemies. He never sought revenge on those who hated, accused, and condemned him to death. He was slapped, spit upon, beaten, scourged, crowned with thorns and ridiculed as a delusional king. With much pain and sorrow, he carried a cross up a hill where he was eventually crucified. There, he continued to love everyone, even those that betrayed and denied him. He ended up his life asking God to forgive his enemies whom he said didn’t know what they were doing. In the end, he gave his life for all – the good, the bad, and to everyone else in the whole wide world so that everyone may have life and have it to the fullest. In Jesus, there never was violence nor retaliation but only unconditional love for all.

Prayer

Jesus, teach my heart not to retaliate and not to be vengeful. Let me not resort to violence in my words and in my deeds when I have been wronged unjustly. Teach my heart to be loving and caring just like your own heart. Let my love be like your unconditional love that knows no bounds. Amen.

“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4: 8