Breaking the Word

"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. (Mt 5:38-42)

 

 

Jewish practice at the time of Jesus was ‘an eye for an eye’. Not that everyone was following this but this was an agreeable and acceptable one. There were many who would go with this idea. This practice is something that comes from the very basic nature of man. Even today there people who propose and practice this. Even this is not practiced there are people who justify this.

 

But the values that Jesus proposes and the practical guide lines that he is presenting to his followers are totally different from what is said above. Jesus is proposing to his followers not to offer any resistance. Does he say that let evil have its way? No not at all. He is asking his followers to do good in its stead. Even the good that one does is not the exact amount opposite of the evil. Rather he suggests that the good must be double of the evil.

 

What Jesus wants is that his followers should be continuing doing good. His followers should think of the other and the needs of the other. St. Paul has understood this very well when he wrote in his letter to Romans: Overcome evil by doing good (Rom 12, 21).

 

 

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."           (Jn 20:19-23)

 

 

The disciples were afraid of the Jews. They locked themselves in the room. They had fear from within and without. A situation like this could only be saved by Jesus. Jesus appeared before them and wished them peace and the disciples rejoiced at the presence of Jesus. They saw Jesus who was crucified. So the peace comes from Jesus who was crucified.

 

Jesus was sent by the father with a particular mission. The mission was to proclaim the kingdom and establish the kingdom. Jesus completed this mission through his suffering and death. Now Jesus is sending his disciples with the same mission. They are asked to continue the same mission. Indirectly Jesus is telling them to expect the same treatment.

 

Jesus sends them with the Holy Spirit. He breathed on them the spirit. They have not only a model to follow but also the presence of the spirit to accompany them. The spirit will be present with them always while they carry on with their mission. Their mission is to forgive the sins of the people.