‘…love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute you…’ (Matthew 5:44)
From Matthew 5:38-48 (Year A: Lent -2)
Continuing with the
Sermon on the Mount in Chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel the reader encounters more
disruptive advice. Not only is liturgical life disrupted according to the preceding
verses (‘..first go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift..’)
but so also is ordinary everyday life in organisations, families, politics,
media, neighbourhoods, churches, trade unions and every other walk of life.
In the face of bad
behaviour, untruths and injustices what are we invited to do? Answer with more
bad behaviour? No, we are bid to ‘turn the other cheek’, ‘go the extra mile’
and ‘giving a shirt in addition ..’ This sort of response risks destabilising organisations
and situations. It is not the way the real world works, it might be
claimed. The guiding principle of
realpolitik is hitting back, pre-empting, covering your own interests and if
this does not work wheeling, dealing and ultimately cutting a deal and moving
on. Instead, Jesus is telling those who
will listen that we should let go and let live. Why? Surely, it is not right to
refuse to stand up to injustice? Surely, we must act sensibly to defend our
good name and reputation against attack that is unwarranted?
It is easy to miss the
point here. The Sermon the Mount is not
a call to passivity, submission or collaboration in unjust situations. Rather
it bids us to reach beyond the immediate situation to the other person or
persons who deserve our deepest respect even if we think they are by far in the
wrong. By always wanting what is best for the other as well as one self (the
injunction is to love the other as oneself). In this sense turning the other
cheek and going the extra mile is an act of defiant trust and freedom.
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