Daily Word Of God
Matthew 5:38-42
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer no resistance to the wicked. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if someone wishes to go to law with you to get your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone requires you to go one mile, go two miles with him.
‘Give to anyone who asks you, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- Today Jesus turns the Old Testament teaching of “an eye for an eye” on its head and instead teaches that God loves all peoples unconditionally and fully, and so must all of us.
- Even when we are justified to “punish” in order to “restore” a hurt caused or an injustice inflicted on us, we are each challenged by Jesus to forgive unconditionally and wholeheartedly so as to win the person back to God.
- Such a love demands that we be as compassionate as Jesus. Our late Pope John Paul II had such a Christ-like virtue. Pray for the grace to be able to be more Christ-like.