Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5, 38-48

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand over your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Life is not a feud

1) Do not confront.  It’s essential that we remember what Jesus said: “offer no resistance to one who is evil”.  Don’t stop

doing good and remember to give no place to what causes bitterness and pain.

Rather, strive so that the poison they try to put in your life does not remain

and you can get rid of it as quickly as possible. If you confront it persists,

if you keep striving for the good in your life, then it goes away.

2) Give to the one who asks of you. Don’t close your heart to anyone and don’t turn your back on anybody.  Don’t be indifferent to the suffering of others. Your greatness is manifested in the actions that you carry out face to face. Be smart, but also be generous, both materially and spiritually. Do good to everyone you can.

3) Love and pray. Love your enemy. What Jesus asks of us is difficult. The process

of having a merciful heart is hard for you and me because there are people who

hurt us deeply. But just like Jesus, we must love and pray for those who harm

us in any way. This process is a struggle against natural impulses, a struggle

within us.  But remember that something good is on the way!  

God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.