TURN THE OTHER CHEEK
ONE
We continue to meditate on the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Jesus is not teaching that we should be a doormat and not defend ourselves.
Jesus is teaching that we must have a radical commitment to forgiveness and a rejection of all sinful anger, hatred and vengeance.
We cannot solve evil with more evil.
As St. Paul tells us we must resist evil and overcome it with good. (Romans 12:21)
TWO
Turning the other cheek does not mean we offer no resistance to evil.
St. Thomas Aquinas explains that “Scripture must be understood in the light of what Christ and the saints have actually practiced. Christ did not offer His other cheek, nor Paul either. Thus, to interpret ‘turning the other cheek’ as a command to submit to evil would be to misunderstand it. This teaching of Jesus signifies rather the readiness to bear, if it be necessary, such things and worse, without bitterness against the attacker. This readiness our Lord showed when He gave up His body to be crucified.”
When Jesus faced the evil going on in the Temple he became angry and drove out the money-changers with a whip.
And when Jesus stood before the high priest at his trial and was struck in the face by a guard, He did not turn the other cheek, but defended himself saying: “If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” (John 18, 23).
By His life and by his words Jesus shows us we have two options when we face evil: we must resist evil in the effort to change it; but when we have done all we can and can do no more; then we must be ready to endure evil patiently and even give up our life for the greater good.
However, we must never return evil with more evil.
Then we become evil ourselves.
THREE
When we face evil, we have two options: Attack or Endure
The first response to evil should be to attack it, which means do all you can to resist, stop or change what is evil.
We must not remain passive in the face of evil.
To attack evil also means to defend the good – speak up, defend what is Right.
We must do what is right and good even when it is hard and especially when you stand to lose something valuable because you hold fast to the truth.
“Are you facing some evil now that you should do something about? Then turn to the Lord asking, “Jesus, what do you want me to do specifically?” Listen and form a resolution to act.
FOUR
The second legitimate response to evil is to endure patiently.
To endure means to remain good in the face of evil.
We face many bad things in life that we cannot change such as a divorce we did not want, a chronic illness, the death of a loved one or some injustice committed against us or someone we love.
We should do all that is in our power to correct what is evil. But once we’ve tried everything possible, and we still can’t change it, then we must endure the evil with patience. That means without giving up and without becoming evil ourselves through revenge or resentment, hate, unforgiveness or despair.
FIVE
This is when we are called to take up our cross and follow Jesus.
But this is not a moment of defeat. This is where we become the MOST powerful. Jesus made his biggest impact by enduring the Cross. Likewise, Jesus gives us a way to change everything by the same means – by enduring our cross and offering it up patiently which means cheerfully.
In this way, just when the devil thinks he’s won, you stab him with his own dagger – you use your cross to conquer evil. This is precisely what Jesus did on the cross and we fight by the same means. So don’t waste your cross. Offer it up for the love of Jesus, for the salvation of souls and for the defeat of Satan.