Homily: Monday of the 11th Week of Ordinary Time - Breaking the cycle of violence

We continue through Chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel, the great sermon on the mount.  Going beyond the minimal and external obedience of the law’s regulation of the Scribes and the Pharisees, Jesus calls us to a life of radical interiorization of God’s love and mercy.

The Christian should never ask, “how little can I do in order to get to heaven?”  For Jesus calls us to be filled with His Spirit of Charity and self-giving.

For mere outward observance of the law does not produce love.  Imagine a married couple that merely kept the Ten Commandments in their marriage, saying; “Our marriage is wonderful.  We don’t steal from each other, lie to teach other, or cheat on each other.  And we haven’t even killed each other yet!”  We know that a happy, healthy, holy marriage requires much more than rigid fulfillment of the law, but rather requires total self-giving.

He calls us to actual concern for people, even our enemies.  And that is hard, because with our enemies we are often blinded by our emotions, our desires for retaliation and revenge. 

He says,  “When someone strikes you on the one cheek, turn the other to him as well.” This sounds like weakness.  But again, he’s calling us beyond the blind reflex of striking back without thinking. 

Certain prescripts allowing for retaliation can be found in several places in the Old Testament; yet Jesus calls us to break the cycle of violence, to turn away from the inclination for revenge.  Revenge is easy, holding on to a grudge is easy, retaliation and getting even is easy.

Allowing the divine mercy of God to direct our actions and attitudes is another story—it is the story of the saints.  The saints aren’t people who merely avoided cheating, stealing, and killing. They have allowed divine love to transform and shape their minds and hearts.

Christians are not weak for avoiding blind retaliation.  There is tremendous strength, courage and fortitude in breaking the cycle of violence.

Instead of reflexively shouting back or hitting back, prayer needs to be our reflex.  When someone cuts you off in traffic, immediately pray a hail mary for them.  When a family member brings up an old argument or a mistake from the past, immediately pray for them.  This allows God to intervene and to transform our evils into good.

May we follow Christ in this way of love today and always, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.