St. Luke’s Institute

June 17, 2013

1^st NO ABUSE +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø Jesus’ sayings today lead us to several reflections

Ø 1^st, 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

2^ND NO EYE FOR EYE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø 2^nd, 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

3^RD A BETTER WAY – REFRAIN ++++++++++++++++++++

Ø 3^rd, 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

4^TH 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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