Episode Transcript  

One

An Eye for an Eye

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Mt 5:38-39

Jesus is not teaching that we should be a doormat and not defend ourselves. Jesus is teaching that responding to evil with more evil will only create an escalation of evil. We must overcome evil with good. 

Two

“Turning the other cheek” what does it mean?

So what does “Turning the other cheek” really mean? The Saints and the Church help us understand Scripture. St. Thomas Aquinas explains that turning the other cheek does not mean we offer no resistance to evil. Thomas says, “Sometimes we should stop evil before it happens. Sometimes we should defend ourselves or others. Sometimes we should patiently endure what cannot be changed.” (Commentary on Matthew) V, lect. 3 (on Matt 5:39).

Three

Jesus Shows us How

When Jesus faced the evil going on in the Temple, He became angry and drove out the money-changers with a whip. And when Jesus stood before the high priest at His trial and was struck in the face by a guard, He did not turn the other cheek, but defended himself, saying, “If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” (John 18, 23).

By His life and by his words, Jesus shows us that when we face evil we must overcome it with good, but that will take courage. The highest form of Christian love is to be willing to suffer wrong rather than repay evil with evil. Every evil presents us with only two Christian options: Attack it if you can. Endure it if you can't. But never become evil yourself.

Four

Courageous Attack

Courage has two primary actions: Attack evil or endure it. The first act of courage is called courageous attack. It is also known as “Righteous Wrath” (sounds like the name for a heavy metal band, doesn’t it?)

Attack does not mean that it is your job to fix or condemn all the people and problems you see. Attack means to stop or remove any evil that is under our authority, within your control. It takes courage to speak up with the truth when the good of others depends on it.

Most importantly, attack your own sins. Courageous attack gives us the strength to stop sinning and remove the triggers that lead to sin. It takes courage to pluck out the eye or cut off the hand that causes us to sin, which means to root out of our lives anything that’s a source of temptation.

We need courage to say, “You know what? I’m fed up with this. I don’t want to commit this sin anymore. I’m getting rid of the occasion for this sin right out of my life.”

It is a sin of omission to do nothing when we have the opportunity to prevent or stop evil.

Five

Patient Endurance: The Courage to Persevere

We should do all we can to attack evil, to prevent it, stop and change what is within our power. But what do we do when there is nothing we can do to change the situation?

That is when the second form of courage is required: patient endurance. Patient endurance is more than gritting our teeth and putting up with hardship. Patience is the virtue that enables us to continue doing good, cheerfully, without complaining or becoming bitter, in the face of evils we cannot change.

St. James writes, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance... so that you may become mature and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)

What difficulty in your life simply will not go away? Is it a chronic illness? A difficult marriage or an unwanted divorce? A son or daughter caught in a self-destructive lifestyle? Problems at work or in your parish that are beyond your control? These are not obstacles to holiness. They are your opportunity to become brave.

If you accept what you cannot change and offer it to God, He will bring about a greater good through that very cross. Patience is not a feeling. It is the choice to trust that God is at work, even when we cannot see how.

Resolution

Today, whenever you encounter something difficult, ask yourself one question: Can I change it? If the answer is yes, then take action. If the answer is no, accept it peacefully, entrust it to God, and continue doing the good cheerfully. Either way, do not become bitter. Do not become resentful. Do not return evil for evil. Overcome evil with good. Because the greatest victory is not changing the situation. The greatest victory is becoming like Christ.

If you enjoyed this meditation, subscribe below.