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.” (Mt 5:38-42)
Jesus really asks us to toe the line. He knows that what He asks may be difficult for us to do, may even be incredibly difficult for us to do. However, He wants us to do it.
The people of His time were well versed in their laws. In the process, though, they had also made all sorts of exceptions and sought out all sorts of loopholes to their laws.
Jesus wanted them to be perfect.
That meant that He wanted them to be kind to everybody, to forgive everybody, to reach out to everybody, to include everybody. Yes, even the ones who hurt them, who were against them, perhaps even who sought to do them great harm.
Is anyone like that in your life?
You know what the Lord asks you to do.
FAITH ACTION: Reach out to those who are difficult for you to deal with. Forgive those who hurt you. Start over again with those you may have put out of your life.