Perfection.

Perfection is everywhere. Even in politics. Great personalities behaved peacefully. In India Gandhi, although he was not a Christian, the teachings of Christ were not unknown to him. Also, Martin Luther King was a black preacher in the USA. However, both died from the killer’s shot. They loved their enemies but hated them.

The Lord Jesus says to us: “Be ye therefore perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48).

The commandment to love one’s neighbor is the adornment of every person. Jesus tells us the familiar words: “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Mt 5:39). In the book of Leviticus, we read the command that the nation received from God through Moses: “…an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (21.24) and in the book of Leviticus: “…a fracture for a fracture, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth…” (24.20).

These words coincide with the oldest law in the world called Lex Talionis, which was in the code of Hammurabi, who reigned in Babylon from 2285 to 2242 BC. The meaning of this law is that a wrong done to another must be repaid with the same wrong. This law also made it into the Old Testament. However, this law has already been beneficial. Well, not so bloodthirsty, but we can evaluate it as the beginning of mercy. Until then, blood revenge was valid. We understand that this was a characteristic feature of primitive tribal society. The law suppresses the revenge of the entire tribe. If someone from another tribe was killed, the tribe swore revenge on all members of the killer’s tribe. And here is the progress. The law of retribution limited revenge because only the one who committed the murder was to be punished and not the whole tribe.

Jesus stood against this law when he said: “Do not resist evil” (Mt 5:39). The command needs to be explained. It does not mean that we should not defend ourselves against physical or moral violence. This is not what Jesus is thinking about. Passivity towards violence would lead to senseless conclusions that do not agree with God’s wisdom. According to Christ, the believer can and should fight against the occupiers of the state, thieves of his property, violence, etc. The Christian recognizes prisons, the army, and the police, to maintain peace, and prevent violence… The man before God must have responsibility for entrusted things.

However, Jesus points out some personal rights that a person can renounce in favor of higher values. The Gospels tell that the Lord Jesus did not behave completely passively towards evil. We know that he healed, drove out the money changers from the temple, defended the apostles against false accusations, and when the servant hit him, he asked: “If I said wrong, prove what was wrong, but if right, why do you beat me” (Jn 18,23)?

Don’t we hear the plea? Lord, make us an instrument of peace…? If so, let’s learn a prayer to ask for peace of soul, strength to resist sin, and peace for our duties.