Step 9: Say YES To Jesus' Surprising Response to Opposition

Step 9: Say YES to Jesus’ Surprising Response to Opposition


Scripture

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.


Brief Observation

Do you know the story of St. Patrick? His story is the story of an absurd love. He was captured as a teenager by the Irish and after he escaped he sensed God’s call to return to the Irish to tell them about Jesus. He returned to his captors! He returned to those who had mistreated him. He embodied what Jesus describes in his sermon on the mount. Instead of returning to Ireland to seek vengeance and make his captors pay for what they had done to him, he returned to them to tell them the price Christ had paid for them!


Remember that Jesus framed the entire sermon on the mount with the idea of being salt and light? If we are going to stand out as light in a dark world, it will not be by doing what the world does, by repeating the offenses the word repeats, by fighting hate with hate. It will be by living like Jesus and St. Patrick, returning love for hate, offering forgiveness for hurt, extending mercy for offenses.


But this is not easy. Our knee jerk response to opposition and hatred is defensiveness. Our long term response to offense and hurt is bitterness. But the salty and lit response is mercy and forgiveness, patience and grace. It’s how St Patrick and Jesus stood against and rose above the ways of the world. As we say “YES” to Jesus, let’s say “YES” with the mighty strength and love of God.


Prayer (part of St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer)

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness

of the Creator of creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,

Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,

Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,

Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.


Daily Scripture

Monday: Matthew 5:38-42

Tuesday: Jeremiah 31:31-34

Wednesday: Colossians 3:12-14

Thursday: Ephesians 4:30-32

Friday: Jude 24-25

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