So that you can be sons of your Father in heaven

 

 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'  But I tell you not to resist an evil person.  But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.  And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.  Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?  Do not even the tax collectors do so?  Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

 

- Matthew 5:38–48 

 

We are currently reading through the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 - 7).  In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.'  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'  But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.  Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.'  But I say to you, do not swear at all:  neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.  But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.'  For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." 

 

  "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'  But I tell you not to resist an evil person.  But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.  And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.  Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away."  My study Bible comments that in contrast to the Old Testament (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21), Jesus warns us not to resist violence with more violence.  Evil can only be overcome by good, which keeps us free from compromise with the devil and can bring the enemy under the yoke of God's love, it says. 

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?  Do not even the tax collectors do so?"  My study Bible comments that if we are freed from the control of hate, sadness, and anger, then we can receive the greatest virtue, which is perfect love.  The love of enemies, it says, is not merely an emotion, but it includes decision and action.  (See 1 John 4:7-21.)  

 

 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."  My study Bible says that this is the summary statement of all that has preceded (See Matthew 5:1-47).  The Christian can truly grow in the perfect of God the Father (Ephesians 4:13; 2 Peter 1), shown by imitating God's love and mercy (compare Luke 6:36).

 

 In the world today we see atrocities on many levels and in many places.  Wanton cruelty seems to be the norm in some corners of the world and for some peoples.  But in this context we must place our trust first where it belongs, in Jesus Christ, in the love of God.  It might be hard to understand, but for every evil thing we see in the world, we should be certain to understand a spiritual warfare that also accompanies that evil.  Where there is participation in hardship and cruelty, in injustice and oppressive, in those who'd make slaves of others or whose abuse knows no bounds, we can be sure there is also demonic activity in tandem.  Just as, as Christians, we seek to participate in the life of Christ through the sacraments and practices of the Church, so do people participating in cruelty and evil participate in the spiritual life of evil -- whether or not they are aware of it.  So, if we take injustice in this context and with this Christian theological and historical understanding, where does that take us?  It takes us back again to St. Paul's teaching in Ephesians 6:12, which is every bit as true today as it was then:  "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."   What this means is that we must accompany our horror and terror at the things we see with a new emphasis on our own spiritual life, on prayer and on seeking God's word and wisdom for how we respond to the things we find appalling.  This does not mean turning away from truth.  It doesn't mean we turn a blind eye to evil.  There is really no time to be given over to unfruitful pursuits that take us away from our awareness of what is to be done.  Are there people we can help who are suffering?  Can we take time for prayer, and remember to take the moments we need for rest and reflection?  Are we supporting what is good for ourselves, our loved ones, our communities?  In this way, we can respond even to what is evil in the world with love, for love is of God.  This does not mean tolerance of evil, nor does it mean appeasement of evil. But it does mean that circumstances call us for active vigilance such as is described in Jesus' prophesies of the end times.  In Matthew 24, Jesus tells us that "because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold."  He ends His prophesy by asking, "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods."  So we should ask ourselves what this means, when He speaks of a faithful and wise servant, who rules his household well, and nurtures and cares for the rest of the household properly.  What does it mean today to nurture and care for our household?  Who is our household and what is our household?  Can we nurture our fellow faithful?  Can we give time to show our love and care?  With what do we feed others?  Do we help to give them courage, or do we fall into a sinful despair that also harms others?  Do we find ways to help others to take heart, and take time to do the same ourselves?  Let us persist in our faith, and endure to the end, as Jesus has admonished, for this is what it means to return good for evil, to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect.  Let us remember that each circumstance offers a chance to find His way, and to do as He did.  This is how an instrument of death became the sign of victory and life, the Cross that saves and means Resurrection.  This is how even martyrs give life to community, for they are spiritual heroes, understood in the Church from the beginning.  Let us consider what we can do even in times of evil, for there is more than meets the eye of the world to understand about life and the love of God.  Let us find strength and guidance in the righteousness of faith.