7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Gospel of Matthew 5: 38-48 is open to various interpretations. One is the literal interpretation that any Christian must not fight back or no resistance shall they offer to those who inflict evil on them. Then there is this interpretation that uses the cultural background of the time when the Gospel was written. Why does the Gospel specifically state “when someone strikes you on your right cheek”? It is said that when a person slaps one’s face, he might only use the back of his hand to do so. In other words, he could not use his open palm to slap a face. Why? It is believed that a palm should be used for some good reasons and purpose like caressing or praying over a person. When the Gospel continues in stating “turn the other one to him as well”, this does not mean that a Christian must be a willing victim. Reasonably, by turning his left cheek to his tormentor, a Christian creates awareness to the latter to stop perpetuating evil and begin to do what is right. His tormentor knows that he could not use his palm in slapping him. So, in using a cultural backdraft, the Gospel reaches a different interpretation. It does not tell Christians to tolerate evil or else evil prospers when Christians do nothing. Rather, it tells us that we resist evil but through non-violent actions. We cannot win against evil by doing evil.

Let me end by sharing my personal reflection about this Gospel. Personally, it is difficult to offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes me, it is difficult for me not to seek vengeance. When one takes my favourite shirt without my knowledge, it is very difficult for me not to confront the thief. When someone pushes me outside my limits, it is very difficult for me not to pray for vindication. The demand of the Gospel does not only seem difficult for me but also impossible. Yet, I later realized that what the Gospel demands is neither difficult nor impossible for people who love. Look at the sad experience of some couples wherein husbands keep their mistresses. After their wives found out the illicit affair, the husbands would just say sorry to them and the wives would accept the apology even if they are still hurt by what has happened. Look at the experience of parents whose son or daughter is disobedient and irresponsible. No matter how hurting it is for the parents to see their child going to a different direction, they could not but love him or her. From these two experiences, the one who loves offers no resistance to one who does evil. The one who loves turns his left cheek as well whenever his right cheek was slapped by the one he loves. The one who loves gives his cloak or jacket as well whenever his shirt was stolen from him by the one he loves. The one who loves walks for two miles whenever he is pressed to walk for one mile by the one he loves. Truly, the command of Jesus in this Gospel is difficult to understand unless we know what it takes to love especially to love God. We can only do all these seemingly difficult and impossible task if we love God. Amen.