Episode Transcript  

One

An Eye for an Eye 

Today we meditate on the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, where He says, “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 we must have a radical commitment to do the right thing, even when we really don’t want to. A commitment to courage and forgiveness, and a rejection of resentment and vengeance. We cannot solve evil with more evil. We overcome evil with good.  

Two

“Turning the other cheek,” what does it mean?

Turning the other cheek does not mean we offer no resistance to evil. In his commentary on this passage, St. Thomas Aquinas explains that “It should be known that this is not to be understood literally but are an exhortation to patience. For sometimes it is praiseworthy to prevent injury in order to avoid greater evils; at other times it is praiseworthy to endure it; and at still other times it is praiseworthy to defend oneself and others. But to be ready to endure injuries rather than to wish to repay them is a mark of perfection.” (Commentary on Matthew) V, lect. 3 (on Matt 5:39).

Thomas makes it clear that Jesus was not teaching that we should always passively offer no resistance to evil. In fact, 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 respond with courage. The virtue of fortitude, of courage, means overcoming our fears for the sake of the greater good. It means doing the right thing, even when we really, really don’t want to. There are two ways to pursue the good, despite the risk and the hardship involved. One is by actively attacking some evil. The other is by clinging to the good, no matter what. The two options of fortitude are to attack or endure.

Three

Courageous Attack – Righteous Wrath

This is the first act of courage, a courageous attack, also called “Righteous Wrath”. Attack does not mean that it is your job to fix or condemn all the people and problems you see. Attack means to eliminate any evil that is under our authority or within your control. We see Jesus live out this courageous attack when He cleansed the Temple with the whip.

Most importantly, “Attack” or righteous wrath is supposed to be directed at our own sins. It’s what gives us the strength to take action in cutting out sinful behavior and the temptations, the near occasions that lead to sin. It takes courage to attack the root of our own personal evil. 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 the energy of anger for that, we need that feeling, “You know what? I’m fed up with this. I don’t want to commit this sin anymore. I’m cutting the occasion for this sin right out of my life.” 

Another way fortitude expresses itself is in courageous speech that counteracts falsehood and depravity. Righteous wrath makes us speak out against injustice. It gives us the courage to say, “Hey, watch your language,” when someone misuses Our Lord’s name. Or “That’s inappropriate,” when someone makes a filthy joke. Or maybe just “That’s not true,” when someone repeats a slur against the Church. 

That takes courage. And those acts of fortitude bring us closer to God and peace, and happiness.

Four

Endurance – the true test of Fortitude

We should do all we can to attack evil, to change bad things when we can. But what do we do when we can’t change or fix things? That is when we endure cheerfully. What is required is a persistent pursuit of the good in endurance. In fact, endurance is the supreme test of fortitude, since when you’ve run out of other options, fortitude still enables you to hold your ground and persevere through any oppressive hardship. 

So, ask yourself, what hardship is present in your life, and just won’t go away? Is it some addiction you can’t break? Some disappointment you can’t get over? Do you have some kind of chronic problem? Are your family relationships or your friendships always strained? Is there something you’ve never been good at? Are you depressed? Can you not figure out what to do with your life? What’s the problem you just can’t fix, no matter how hard you try?

Because that difficulty is the opportunity for you to become brave. So, will you persevere in doing the good, in spite of whatever problems continue to weigh on you? 

Let’s say you can’t manage to stop a certain vice: will you keep going to confession, and keep trying to do better? If so, that’s fortitude. Maybe you’re in a marriage that’s terribly unhappy, deeply unsatisfying both to you and your spouse. Will you stick it out, continue trying to love your spouse and children, and ask God for the graces to bring peace into your family? If so, then you are proving your courage, and the Lord won’t let that courage go to waste.

Five

Patience

When we talk about endurance, the supreme test of fortitude, we also have to talk about the virtue of patience. Patience is what makes you able to endure cheerfully. Because the truth is, you’re not really brave unless you can endure cheerfully. Fortitude isn’t a virtue for downcast, pessimistic, broken people. Patient, persevering people aren’t the ones who say, “Yeah, you know what, I don’t even care anymore, so whatever.” 

As opposed to giving up, a state of dejection, “to be patient means to preserve cheerfully and peacefully in spite of the difficulty or suffering endured. Courage isn’t an attitude for sad, weak people, but rather for the strong and joyful. What motivates patience, like what motivates all the virtues, is the desire for union with God. 

So, there should be an optimism that characterizes our endurance, since we who believe in heaven and God’s final triumph over history know that what’s worth having is worth fighting and suffering in endurance for.

Suggested Resolutions:

Choose one resolution for today to help you grow closer to God, or create your own. Here are some ideas to inspire you. 

• Let go of anger towards things that you can’t control. Stop and take your frustrations to prayer instead of taking your anger out on something else.

• Have the courage to stand up to others when they blaspheme, gossip, or speak in a vulgar way, but do so with patience and understanding.

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