Turn the Other Cheek

Turn the Other Cheek by CatholicMemes

Turn the Other Cheek
Today's Gospel reading from Matthew is the famous "turn the other cheek" message from Christ. I offer two commentaries on this passage. The first is from the Navarre Bible. The second is embedded video from the USCCB Daily Reflections.

Navarre Bible
According to the commentators of the Navarre Bible:

38-42. Among the Semites, from whom the Israelites stemmed, the law of vengeance ruled. It led to interminable strife, and countless crimes. In the early centuries of the chosen people, the law of retaliation was recognized as an ethical advance, socially and legally: no punishment could exceed the crime, and any punitive retaliation was outlawed. In this way, the honor of the clans and families was satisfied, and endless feuds avoided.

As far as New Testament morality is concerned, Jesus establishes a definitive advance: a sense of forgiveness and absence of pride play an essential role. Every legal framework for combating evil in the world, every reasonable defense of personal rights, should be based on this morality. The three last verses refer to mutual charity among the children of the Kingdom, a charity which presupposes and deeply imbues justice.

USCCB Daily Reflection
I included this video so that you could also see the quality of reflections offered daily. I highly recommend watching or listening to these after reading the daily readings as part of your daily spiritual plan of life. They are available at the USCCB site.