THE WORD
1 Kgs 21,1-16 / Mt 5,38-42
Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”
IN OTHER WORDS
This is what a christian ethic is all about – being heartless? Yes! being heartless to oneself but being kindhearted to others. This is an ethic that obliterates the self ‘unless you deny yourself…’ and exalts the other. This is an ethic that says ‘if you want to be the master, be a slave; if you want to be exalted, be humble; if you want to be the first, be the last, if you want to be great, be a servant…’
An ethic that exalts non-retaliation, humiliation, not self-seeking; an ethic that does not even think of rights but of duties, not of privileges but of responsibilities. This is an ethic that is not concerned about doing what one likes, but about ‘doing what is of service to others.’ Even if the task is compelled upon you, do it with a smile and do it to the best of your abilities. Is this human ethic? No. This is Divine ethic, Christian ethic: for you have to “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” How do you measure up to this kind of ethic?
- Fr. Jojo Caballes, SVD | SHP, Kamuning, QC
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
