11th Week in Ord. Time, Monday – 13th June 2022 — Gospel: Mt 5,38-42
Call to be Benevolent
The old eye-for-an-eye commandment made two positive contributions: it checked wild revenge, and it taught justice. Actually, the Old Testament references (Ex 21,24; Lev 24,20; Deut 19,21) are concerned about a command to punish and a limitation on punishment – the punishment should not exceed the crime. However, authority for punishment was vested in the government, not in the individual. Jesus went beyond the law to a higher righteousness by abolishing retaliation altogether. He showed his disciples that, whereas revenge was once legally permissible, now non-resistance was graciously possible. For this purpose, Jesus puts five cases wherein the disciples should not passively submit to injustice, but respond in a creative, non-violent way manifesting Christian meekness. Jesus makes the love of God as the fundamental command, on which all else stands to spread their wings. Love is not envious and does not take offense and retaliate (1 Cor 13,4-7). Jesus encourages his followers to respond with disproportionate kindness, promoting the good with generosity and benevolence. For benevolence, which is the glory of the divine nature, and the perfection of the human, rejoices in doing good forever.
