Monday, June 13, 2022

 

Memorial of Saint Anthony, priest

(I Kings 21:1-16; Matthew 5:38-42)

It is said that St. Anthony was portrayed in early images as holding the Scriptures in one arm.  This makes sense since Anthony was one of the greatest preachers in Europe.  In time the Scriptures were replaced by an image of the child Jesus.  This also has its logic since Jesus is the Word of God.  Today’s gospel passage requires the assistance of a great interpreter of Scripture, which is the role of a preacher.

On a preliminary reading the passage seems to forbid all forms of defense.  Jesus tells his disciples to “offer no resistance to one who does evil.”  Does he mean that a nation cannot defend itself against an aggressor like Ukraine against Russia today?  Jesus has in mind personal aggression.  He is saying not to allow a loss of face move you to humiliate the aggressor in return.  He probably does not have in mind letting another kill you.  Nor, it seems, does he mean that an army should not protect its nation from unjust intrusion.

We Christians are to live a different morality than the world’s.  That morality will move us to act in ways that seem heroic and perhaps at times foolish to others.  Yet, it seems, that Jesus is not asking us to allow others to hurt us at will.