First Reading - 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Gospel - Matthew 5:38-42
The first reading is filled with positive inputs. First of all, Paul reminds the christians that they all have received grace (The word 'grace' is derived from a greek word 'charis' means gift) from God and we should never neglect them. He further explain where is our grace best manifested. He outlines the grace of fortitude in the face of hardships and sufferings. Furthermore, he mentions the grace of purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness, love, truth, righteousness and endurance etc. These graces make us upbeat and confident. He assures that the graces have contrary effects from the worldly standard; as the world may view us all imposters yet we able to remain genuine; in the sight of the world, we may be dying but infact we remain alive; the world may consider us miserable yet we remain joyful and consider us poor yet we are rich; they consider us to have nothing yet possess everything.
The gospel passage presents a very surprising teaching of Jesus. Jesus rules out two important beliefs prevalent in the society at that time; retaliation and resistance. The belief of retaliation is marked by quoting the rule itself:"eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth." This rule was made to doll out equal justice. The belief of resistance was meant to defend oneself or one's possession in the face of the danger of encroachment. This was required for self-protection and protection of one's own right. However, Jesus goes further to teach about forgiveness and generosity. The teachings of Jesus may apear like neglecting justice and the actions of self-preservation or self-protection. But it's not so, Jesus always upholds justice and defends the rights of the individual. The teachings on forgiveness upholds the justice in a greater sense as it uproots enemity, anger, grudge and hatred and pervades love, peace and joy in relationships. So also the teaching on generosity uproots selfishness, greed, and arrogance and cultivates charity, sensitivity and approachability.
Dear friends, as Jesus teaches us to be forgiving and generous. It really needs great strength to do so. It's here we need grace to live the life forgiveness and generosity. St. Paul reminds us in the first reading that we all have received grace from God but we need to recognize it and live it. He also further helps us discover them in the concrete situations of our lives. The graces of fortitude, purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness, love, truth, righteousness and endurance etc. they are given to us, we are to recognize and outshine them in our lives. When we are able to recognize our graces, certainly the teachings of Jesus may not become worldly for us but greater than that; they are spiritual and encompassing.
Let's pray that we may be able to nurture and groom our graces that we have received so that we may be able to live our lives according to the teachings of Jesus.
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