OT VII [A] Lv 19:1-2, 17-18; I Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48

Today’s readings explain the basis of Jewish and Christian morality, the holiness of the loving, merciful and compassionate God. The first reading, taken from the book of Leviticus, gives the holiness code: “Be holy, for I the Lord, your God, am holy.” It also gives us the way to share God’s holiness:  “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 103) challenges us to be like our God – kind, merciful and forgiving.

The old Jewish law said: ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth’. This was enacted to limit revenge, rather than encourage it. If someone takes out one of your eyes, you are not entitled to take out both of his. That would only escalate the violence. So the old law aimed to limit human wickedness, but could not eradicate it. In contrast, Jesus says: ‘Turn the other cheek’. I cannot hit the person facing me on the right cheek except with back of the hand. I can hit the left cheek straight. To be slapped with the back of the hand on the right cheek was a gross insult; it implied that the person hit is inferior. Our natural instinct is to hit back. Jesus says it is far better to find a creative way forward, reflecting the patient love of God himself. By offering the other cheek, you are effectively saying: ‘Hit me again if you wish; but this time, treat me as an equal, not as an inferior’.

Similarly, Jesus says that if your opponent in law would take the shirt off your back, give him your vest too. In those days in Palestine, a poor man would have just two garments: a cloak and a shirt. By surrendering both of them, you show your opponent what he is really doing: reducing a poor man to nakedness and shame. 

Again, you may be obliged to carry some equipment for a Roman soldier. The military had the right to make civilians do this, but only for one mile, not more.  Very well then, says Jesus: surprise him by offering to go two miles. That is far more constructive than making an official complaint, or plotting revenge by joining a resistance movement. You would be showing the Romans that there is a different way to be human, a way which reveals God’s victory over all oppression, injustice and inequality.

These three little scenes give glimpses of God’s way for us to live a truly human life. They are not easy; and perhaps they were not intended always to be taken literally. But they should certainly urge us to think about our own behavior, and realize that we are often oppressive or domineering. They should encourage us to share Jesus’ truly creative and loving way of being human. 

In Bill Adler's popular book of letters from kids, an 8 year-old boy from Nashville, Tennessee makes this contribution: "Dear Pastor, I know God wants us to love everybody, but He surely never met my sister." Sincerely, Arnold.

There was a man who was always bragging about his love for children. One day he was pouring a new driveway of cement and some of the little kids in the neighborhood came running through his yard and ran right through his freshly poured driveway. In fact, this occurred while he was gone, and some even wrote their initials and names in the cement. By the time he got back it had hardened with the footprints and the initials and the names hardened for all to see. This man went into a tirade. He was screaming and yelling at the top of his lungs; pacing back and forth about to explode. One of his neighbors came over and said, "I thought you said you loved children." The man said, "Well, I do love them in the abstract, but I don't love them in the concrete."

When Jesus said, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, he was not asking us to do anything that he did not do himself. When they challenged his teaching, he told Parables, quizzical and often humorous stories, which forced them, and us, to think differently. When they mocked him, he did not respond. When they struck him and scourged him, he accepted the pain, uncomplainingly. When they made him carry the burden of the cross, the ultimate symbol of Roman domination, he carried it as far as he was able, and then had the humiliation of someone helping him with it. Together they brought it to the place of execution; and as the soldiers hammered in the nails he prayed for them. As true disciples of Jesus we should try to live by a merciful and compassionate attitude even to our enemies. Otherwise we are not worthy to be called the disciples of Jesus.