Tarsish Marak csc –
Readings: 1Kgs 21:1-16; Mt 5:38-42
Today’s gospel challenges us to confront problems and difficulties with humility. Jesus instructs us not to seek revenge but to endure. He overturns the Old Testament’s “eye for an eye” law, advising us to withstand oppression without retaliation. When Jesus speaks of turning the other cheek, he is urging us to confront our accuser, not to submit passively but to assert ourselves even in the face of adversity. He encourages us to go beyond mere compliance, to willingly offer more than is demanded of us. If someone compels us to go one mile, we should willingly go two. If someone demands our shirt, we should also offer our cloak.
Jesus is not advocating passivity; rather, he is reminding us of our shared humanity and our duty to serve one another. We are not merely told to accept mistreatment but to respond with generosity and assistance. As we journey through life, we will encounter numerous challenges, and it is essential to be prepared to face them with grace.
Just as we have received freely from God, we are called to freely serve others. “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).