12 Feb Wednesday

“You have heard it said . . .” regarding revenge, “But I say onto you. . . ” seems to be the thread that runs through these rabbinic interpretations of the Law in order to develop and promote the richest meanings of the Law. Both Jesus’ interpretations of Law about death are based on a new interpretation of Law about reconciliation, In order to halt the stern direction of the Law as it falls out in case after case, Jesus enables his disciples to go in a new direction toward mercy and healing.

There are two more of these oppositional clauses given to us next Sunday, and the saying of Jesus regarding revenge based on the story in Leviticus 24, 10-23 will be the focus. The Church still after 2,000 years accepts revenge! So it is right here, that the Church does not give witness to the Gospel Proclamation. Worse, we still think of God, especially the God of the Old Testament as a vengeful deity.