SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:38-39 – You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you ‘Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also’.
COMMENTARY: There are so many things that I want to teach my kids. So many things I have to teach my kids. Revenge is not one of them. It was pre-installed with the several other vices with their original sin.
God can infuse us with forgiveness so that we don’t have to resort to revenge. If we don’t allow that forgiveness to reign in our lives, we will have other things try to reign in its place: bitterness, hatred, and psychosomatic problems.
Jesus’ instructions are not difficult, but they are impossible without his strength.
REFLECTION: What are some of the biggest hurts you have experienced in the past year? How did you respond? How would a deeper experience of forgiveness enable you to express forgiveness to that person? Look at the results of not forgiving people. Have you seen any of those in your life? In your family’s life? Think of those who have hurt you. Write out a plan for how you want to respond to each one in light of this.
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