Matthew 5,38-48.
“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,” the Law of Talion, derives its name from Roman Law, but the principle is at least as old as the Code of Hammurabi at Babylon, (18th century BC), and was re-stated in Ex 21,24. It was, in itself, a radical refinement of the ancient penal system that pre-dated it. The Law of talion (lex talionis), replacing the law of might being the law of right, presupposed that all people are equal. The law restricted the right to revenge and also controlled the tendency to overreact to aggression of any sort.
However, “turning the other cheek,” doesn’t mean that we should ignore our rights. We have a right to have them respected by others as Jesus demanded at his own trial, (Jn 18,23). But it is the way in which we do it that matters. The message that matters here is that we should not repay aggression with aggression – which only leads to more aggression. Soldiers had the right to commandeer people to carry their baggage for a thousand paces. Jesus asks his followers to surprise such soldiers by willingly carrying their baggage an extra mile, thereby disarming the soldier’s strong- arm tactics with kindness and benevolence.
Not only does Jesus not permit us to hate our enemies, or wrongdoers, but he asks us his followers to love them, and to pray for them. We must repay evil with good in order to convert the aggressor.
In Greek there are four different words for love; storge – love of parent for their child or vice versa; eros – sexual love; philia– love of tender affection between true friends; agape – unconditional love, no matter what the person does.
God shows such unconditional unlimited love for both the good and the bad, and in loving our enemies we are imitating exactly what God our “Father in heaven” does. We are called to give example of a higher standard than that of the tax collectors who loved those who loved them.
God, who in His compassion causes the sun to rise on good and bad alike, gives a model of compassion for Christians to imitate in their dealings with one another and especially with their enemies. Such compassion is the essence of the perfection which God wishes us to possess.
Jesus tells us in today’s gospel reading to love our enemies and pray for them. If we find that difficult, perhaps we should start by praying for the gift of being able to pray for our enemies.
To be able to pray for and forgive those who have injured us can be extremely difficult, but is a spiritually, emotionally, and physically liberating experience, and a healing grace of God.
In inviting his followers to be perfect, (5,48, cf. Lev. 11,44; Deut. 18,13), Jesus is saying, let there be no limits to your goodness. Be whole-hearted with others in your attitude, words and deeds as God is with you and with them.
Mahatma Gandhi, a great admirer of the values enshrined in the Sermon on the Mount, said if we all followed the principle of “Eye for eye and tooth for tooth,” we would all end up blind and toothless.
Love and forgiveness is the way to avoid such a fate.
Father Geoff O’Grady