Have you been hurt in such a way that you plan to retaliate? Do you trust that the Lord will act on your behalf and for the cause of your righteousness? - Daily Reflections June 16,2014

LOVE HURTS   The law of retaliation was a normal principle in Old Testament times. It was ethically approved and legal to rule out feuds within clans by way of an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, wound for wound. Sounds great? Sounds like revenge. Jesus teaches the way of love, challenging and selfless indeed. I don’t know about you, but I cringe at the thought that I must offer no resistance to the wicked as the words of Jesus in the Gospel today express. Where is justice in that?        Justice acts out of love, and love manifests itself through forgiveness. The Lord reminds us that vengeance belongs to Him. We are simply called to offer Him our troubles and injustices, and trust that He will act — in His time and in God’s way. Jesus’ Beatitudes are moral acts and behavior codes that will enable us to live the Christian way of life in imitation of Jesus. There is too much retaliation in the world today. One only has to be informed of the riots among countries that are seeking peace and security, though often through drastic measures and not being guided by love. Violence begets violence. That is why I abhor computer games that thrive on shooting and killing. What kind of impact do these have upon our youth as they spend hours playing these mind-deadening games?        Jesus teaches His followers to give and not to count the cost, to go over and beyond what is expected, to offer the other cheek when one is struck. Sounds very painful, but this is the way of love — a love that hurts as Jesus shows us, par excellence, in taking up His cross and being crucified. It is wonderful to love in this way and we must not be abashed in seeking from the Lord the grace to love and forgive. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL   REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Have you been hurt in such a way that you plan to retaliate? Do you trust that the Lord will act on your behalf and for the cause of your righteousness?   Lord, remove from me any desire to seek revenge and to hurt my offender. Give me a steadfast and right spirit as I place my trust in You. Amen.