Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5, 38-42
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 to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”
Life isn’t a tooth for a tooth
1) It was said. Life is a constant process of learning and gaining wisdom through experience. You should always try to help others as much as you can, but you can’t go through life keeping score. When you constantly measure people, it can lead to suspicion and even make you doubt your own intentions. Some people live as if they had a permanent replay system, endlessly reviewing their own actions and criticizing everyone else’s. That kind of life leaves no room for peace. You can’t move forward if you’re always analyzing what someone said, what they did, or what you imagine they might do. Wisdom often means letting go of that need to keep score and choosing instead to live with greater freedom and trust.
2) Offer no resistance. It’s important to remember Jesus’s teaching about responding to evil without allowing it to take root in your heart. The goal is not to let bitterness or pain settle inside you, but to keep choosing what’s good. When someone hurts you, the healthiest response is often to express the hurt honestly and then create the necessary distance. You can continue to pray for that person without remaining trapped in a harmful relationship. Conflict can become strangely addictive if we give it too much attention. Strive to ensure that the poison some people try to put in your life doesn’t remain. When you keep your eyes on your purpose and continue doing good, the poison loses its power and begins to fade.
3) Go with him. In life, we will walk alongside many people. But we must remember that accompanying someone forever is Jesus’s role, not ours. Our task is to love, support, and serve others without losing a healthy sense of our own limits. That’s why boundaries matter. They help us care for others without creating dependence or carrying responsibilities that don’t belong to us. Ask God for the strength to walk with people faithfully, and also for the wisdom to know when to say, “This is as far as I can go.”
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
