Reflection of the Word of God, Sunday February 19th, 2023

Sunday Readings: Lev 19, 1-18; 1Cor 3,16-23; Mt 5,38-48

In the Gospel, Jesus shows the path of justice through the law of love to overcome revenge. The old law, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, allowed offenders to pay penalties equivalent to the damages caused; but revenge is not Christian, nor does it resolve conflicts.

The Lord asks his disciples to do good. Only then is the chain of evil broken and things really change. We can say that evil is like an empty space, an absence of good, and that void can only be filled with the presence of good works.

Our Savior wants to teach us to distinguish between justice and revenge. Because revenge is never fair. Christ rejects violence. Christian love is manifested in a special way in mercy. So, the proposal of Jesus is the commandment of love.

Fr. Martin