INSPIRASUNS

I’ve shared with you all that I have a dear friend who is an Anglican priest. Every day, he sends a devotional/educational/inspirational text. His text today was timely. This morning, he shared the reading from Matthew where Jesus asks us to turn the other cheek.

I have to admit, I struggle with this gospel; it’s always been a difficult one for me. We’re supposed to encourage people to treat us badly when they do? Whoa, really.

Think about those times when you have been wronged, or at least when you feel you’ve been wronged. Those times when someone has treated you poorly, when you feel like someone got away with something, or worse, when someone physically hurt you, or someone you know. I mean, I can think of times just over the past week where I felt wronged or hurt by someone else’s actions towards me. We’re supposed to accept that and open ourselves up for more of it? Is that really what the Lord is asking?

Well, my friend shares a reflection on what Jesus is asking us today, and I wanted to share it here with you this morning:

Jesus is not trying to teach us passivism. He is inviting us to discover that love is the perfection of justice. Humility and forgiveness are the pillars of this radically new mentality. Only in the light of these can we hope to build true and enduring peace in the world, with those around us and even within ourselves.

Fulfillment of this attitude is not merely to avoid direct retaliation but rather to form a generous and magnanimous heart that knows how to give itself without ever giving up. Jesus gave not only His tunic and cloak, but all of His clothes to those who were to crucify Him. Jesus walked the extra mile, which brought Him to the top of Calvary. Jesus promised salvation to the criminal who asked Him to remember him as they hung on the cross.

I’ve always known that Jesus doesn’t want us to be stepped on or treated poorly. His point is, when we are, we should open our hearts and show His love rather than returning evil for evil. Love conquers all, especially evil. Revenge and justice are the Lord’s to hand out.

My friend ended with a prayer that is also very appropriate:

Lord Jesus, you are God. You came down from heaven to teach me how to love, but I have such a hard time loving those around me and even loving myself sometimes. By Your almighty grace, help me to be more like You, to forgive and to give myself to others so that I can help make their lives just a bit happier. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Friends, I know it’s hard to sometimes forgive and forget the harm we feel has been done to us. Take a little step each day towards it, and we’ll get there. I think my friend’s prayer is a good daily prayer; let’s help make someone’s life just a little bit happier.

Have a good day, friends 🙂 .

p.s. Thanks to my friend Patty Gibbs for the beautiful sunset picture in Naples a few nights ago, the cover of today’s little blog.

Matthew 5:38
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 the one who is evil.