The Recompense of Love

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2020 4:39 pm Post subject: The Recompense of Love

The Recompense of Love

Scripture:

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel. And you shall say to them: Be holy, because I the Lord your God am holy.

You shall not hate your brother in your heart: But reprove him openly, lest you incur sin through him. Seek not revenge, nor be mindful of the injury of your citizens. You shall love your friend as yourself. I am the Lord.
( Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 )

Know you not that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? But if any man violate the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which you are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: I will catch the wise in their own craftiness. And again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Let no man therefore glory in men. For all things are yours, whether it be Paul or Apollo or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. For all are yours. And you belong to Christ. And Christ belongs to God.
( 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 )

You have heard that it has been said: An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike you on your right cheek, turn to him also the other: And if a man will contend with you in judgment, and take away your coat, let go your cloak also unto him. And whosoever will force you one mile, go with him another two. Give to him that asks of you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not away. You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who makes his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and rains upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans do this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? Do not also the heathens do this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.
( Matthew 5:38-48 )

Reflection:

Evil surrounds us. Violence of word and deed pierces the peace. The wounded heart is tempted to strike out in vengeance and retribution. When responding to provocation, the wisdom which yields what is right and just is often left behind. As the wounded heart prepares its response, consequences are not seen or discarded from the equation of reasoning. The rational mind becomes clouded as emotions rise such that the heart loses its sight of the weights of justice such that ill thought-out responses risk escalation which only serve to fan the flames of evil.

The Prince of Peace calls us away from the paths of revenge and retribution, not that we do not have the right to stand our ground against harm, but so that we do not respond with injustice. We are tempted to settle our grudges through retribution, but the wounded heart is mistaken that revenge is the path to healing. The desire for vengeance only serves a dark emotion and often consumes those who seek it.

Some perceive that turning the other cheek is a sign of weakness, perhaps even cowardice. They perceive it as an invitation to the bully. They do not comprehend that the restrained response requires the greater strength from which to engage another with calm resolve, especially as our perceptions of injustice seethe within us.

Jesus did not instruct us to simply accept all abuse, rather, to allow His wisdom of love to guide us before we act. He advises that we give visibility to injustice, but rather than to escalate it, we should endeavor to distance ourselves from the evil directed at us so that our response neither hides it or offers an appearance of justification. He calls us to let it be there for all of heaven and earth to see and to trust in the justice of the Lord.

Our temptation is to seek the satisfaction of revenge, but is it worth the darkening of our soul and the risk to our eternity? We must consider, what is gained through exchanging harms?

Restraint is not an easy task, especially for the wounded heart. The whispers within our thoughts which nourish animus and desires ?to get even,? do not bring peace. The evil one shall only use them as an occasion to foster darkness between souls.

Let us, then, turn to the wisdom of God and let His love be our guide towards how we approach one another and encourage the blessings of peace. Let us pray to learn from our Savior what we should do in the face of injustice. Let us not seek the bitter pill of revenge, rather, let us demonstrate our greater strength through the virtues of humility and love. It is true that our restraint may be difficult and challenging, but let us consider which is better for our soul, the fleeting satisfaction of revenge or the recompense the loving soul shall receive in heaven.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways do we live the call to love our neighbor?

In what ways do we seek to learn the wisdom of the Lord and live as He asks of us?

In what ways may we encourage one another to share in the blessings of peace?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier