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From: Matthew 5:38-42

Jesus and His Teaching, the Fulfillment of the Law (Continuation)

(Jesus said to His disciples,) [38] "You have heard that it was said,
`An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' [39] But I say to you, Do
not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right
cheek, turn to him the other also; [40] and if any one would sue you and
take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; [41] and if any
one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. [42] Give to him
who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you."

Commentary:

38-42. Among the Semites, from whom the Israelites stemmed, the law of
vengeance ruled. It led to interminable strife, and countless crimes.
In the early centuries of the chosen people, the law of retaliation was
recognized as an ethical advance, socially and legally: no punishment
could exceed the crime, and any punitive retaliation was outlawed. In
this way, the honor of the clans and families was satisfied, and
endless feuds avoided.

As far as New Testament morality is concerned, Jesus establishes a
definitive advance: a sense of forgiveness and absence of pride play an
essential role. Every legal framework for combating evil in the world,
every reasonable defense of personal rights, should be based on this
morality. The three last verses refer to mutual charity among the
children of the Kingdom, a charity which presupposes and deeply imbues
justice.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Lutgardis was born in the Netherlands around the year 1182. At
the age of twelve, she was sent to a Benedictine monastery to
receive an education. Lutgardis did not feel that she was called to
become a Benedictine sister and expected to leave the monastery
when her education was finished. Contrary to Lutgardis' thoughts,
God had another plan in store for her. After receiving a vision of
Christ, Lutgardis realized that she was called to monastic living and
entered the Benedictine monastery.

Lutgardis flourished in the monastery and developed a deep prayer
life and spirituality. During her life, she was graced with visions of
Jesus and of the Blessed Mother. Around the year 1210, Lutgardis
felt called to a more austere monastic lifestyle joined the Cistercians
at Aywueres. Lutgardis spent the rest of her life at this monastery
and became renowned throughout Northern Europe for her deep
spirituality and her mystic experiences. Many of the faithful visited
her and benefited from her gifts of healing and prophecy. Lutgardis
died in the year 1246 after spending the final decade of her life in
physical blindness.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
h
We must love our neighbor as being made in the image of God and
as an object of His love. -St. Vincent de Paul

TODAY IN HISTORY

1246 Death of St. Lutgardis
1654 Queen Christina, of Sweden a convert to Roman Catholicism,
abdicated her throne to devote the remainder of her life to religion
and art.

TODAY'S TIDBIT

Members of the clergy are men who have been ordained to Holy
Orders and who have been commissioned for sacred ministries and
assigned to pastoral and other duties for the service of the people
and the Church. These people include deacons, priests and bishops.

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all people with physical disabilities.