Morning Devotion for the Season after Pentecost
September 22, 2021
The Invitatory
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord's Name be praised.
Reading: Matthew 5:38-48
‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones
How are the Law and justice related? In this passage, Jesus explores the implications of the Law for his followers in the context of salvation. The Law, even God’s Law handed to Moses, must be engaged and re-interpreted in light of Jesus as the revelation of God to humankind. Such engagement need not lessen the challenge of appropriating ancient biblical texts for modern society. Jesus’ own teaching is an example of this struggle.
The lex talionis, the law of retaliation, was an attempt to enact fair justice among the people of ancient Israel. Wherever harm is committed–whether intentional or not –the judges of ancient Israel were expected to authorize the law of retaliation (i.e., “eye for an eye”). It is not to be practiced only in cases when an evil person causes injury. Rather it is a law that expresses a commitment to justice. And, it ensures that the penalty is not arbitrary, making the punishment more severe than the crime. But Jesus admonishes followers “not resist an evildoer.” The translation is odd and implies no opposition to oppose. Nonetheless, Jesus has an alternative strategy for dealing with evil. His objective is to overcome evil with good, to overcome humiliation by shaming those in power.
Jesus advocates the type of follower who is willing to give even more than asked from those in need: “give to everyone who begs from you.” Without specific context, interpreters have taken Jesus’ words in a variety of ways. It is inescapable, however, that Jesus is decidedly proposing something new, almost unheard of when contrasted with the law of retaliation. And far more demanding if one seriously contemplates what justice might look like or ask us to offer for its sake.
We must adopt an entirely different context in which to place the actions. Rather than one of conflict, of winner and loser, to opt for avoiding choosing sides and to consider what addresses all concerns. If we were to wait upon the unfolding of that insight, what our response might be; if we could imagine what flows from the action of “giving to everyone who begs from you.” This might serve as the call to the church that we might recognize as one for unity and not opposing sides.
The church is called to consider a wholeness that embraces and nourishes all. It is the means by which we are led to appreciate each person as created in the image of God. What makes us persons is not easily reduced to a list of facts. It is something mysterious and elusive, not susceptible to analysis. What is characteristic of all persons is the point at which relationships intersect. We all stand in the midst of a network of relationships. This presents an opportunity to make a difference and to form new relations. It is the opportunity to regard anyone we encounter and observe the same mystery that is true of all humans; therefore, they all deserve the same kind of reverence or attention. We can engage with one another and reconnect to and with the unity in which we were created.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
