Thursday, June 18, 2015

Daily HOMILY for June 15, 2015: Monday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time


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Monday 11th Week OT
The Institute
June 15, 2015
1st NO ABUSE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  Jesus’ sayings today lead us to several reflections
Ø  1st, J says, “When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn and offer the other one to him as well”
Ø  Here J doesn’t mean that we should allow selves to be abused or disrespected, physically or verbally
Ø  Instead, we have right & responsibility to protect selves & remove selves from such situations
Ø  Women in abusive situations need to get out & take children w/ them
Ø  J doesn’t will or intend this kind of thing
2ND NO EYE FOR EYE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  2nd, J refers to law of early Hebrew Scriptures, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”
Ø  He’s not teaching this or even reaffirming it
Ø  Instead, quotes law because his is an advance
Ø  The law limited amount of retribution you could take for an offense
Ø  So if someone hits you in eye, according to that law, you could hit them back in eye, but you could not do more – like crippling them
3RD A BETTER WAY – REFRAIN ++++++++++++++++++
Ø  3rd, J really is raising the bar higher
Ø  He doesn’t want an eye for an eye, but wants us to refrain from anything that’s vengeful or destructive
Ø  He wants us to deal with our anger and hurt in some other way, to process our feelings, and not act out of them in vengeance
Ø  He wants us to act constructively
4TH A BETTER WAY – WITHIN +++++++++++++++++++
Ø  Finally, underneath J’ teaching is great truth that real strength lies in restraint & not in hitting back
Ø  Self-esteem comes not in diminishing others as they have me, rather from living out of a center where God is present
Ø  We realize our innate value & acquire a sense of this not by beating up another in return, but by responding to another as J would do
2 NO’S / 2 YESES +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  So, a challenging passage with much to reflect on today!

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