Scripture Scribbles: February 19, 2023

the Gospel

Matthew 5:38-48

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 as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand over your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

"You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

the devotion

Immediately I am struck by Jesus’ words: “offer no resistance to one who is evil” (v. 39).  Lord, is that even possible for me?  This seems like a weak and passive approach to life’s difficult people and situations.  Do You want me to sit back and allow others to “get away with” blatant wrongdoing?

Like many people, I am filled with a deep, innate sense of justice.  More than simply desiring retaliation for harm done to me or others, I want to be assured that the unjust one, or “evil doer,” will pay the consequences for his or her action.

Now justice is not a bad thing.  In fact, it is a very good thing.  If justice was not a value of society, we would be left in chaos and confusion. 

This is where Jesus’ challenge of “Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” comes into play (v. 48).  Our God is full of justice, yes, but He is not only just.  He is merciful.  Our Father in heaven is perfectly just and perfectly merciful.  In order to live like Jesus, I must also try my best to live this union of justice and mercy.

Lord, You perfect justice and mercy with Your love, Your unending, unconditional love for all.  Jesus, please fill my heart with a love like yours; please give me the grace to love without boundaries no matter who I am with or what I am experiencing.

A prayer I find comforting  and tremendously effective in moments where I am faced with injustice or am tempted to take control rather than let go and let God:

God grant me the serenity…
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Kaitlin Gilday