A fresh look at the law

 A few months ago I was a blind beggar on the side of the road. The day that I met Jesus, all that changed, and ever since I have followed him. Today we were on a hillside by the Galilean sea while Jesus preached. It was a beautiful day, the sky was so perfectly blue, the birds of the air entirely at home and the sun covered us like a warm blanket.  I remember how sunlight felt when I was blind; it was always such a comfort. Now I see the sun, the birds, the trees and I cherish all of it.

Today, Jesus gave an exceptionally long sermon that detailed right living and having a pure heart.  He is certainly explaining our Jewish tradition with a different twist. Jesus cleverly challenges our norms, but he seems to be authentically holy and he knows the law really well. Generally, I think he is a confident man that really cares about people. The day he healed me, he said that it was my faith that healed me. I didn’t know what he meant; I listen to Jesus closely about what faith is, so I can repay him for what he has done for me. He certainly is inspiring.

Something he said today struck me hard, he referenced the Torah: “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth”. This is the law that allows someone to extract only what another has taken, so if I steal your donkey, you can steal mine, if I steal two, you can steal two. I listened closely as Jesus said, “eye for eye”, since I know what it is to lose sight.  Jesus suggested the law doesn’t require enough of us, indicating that we “turn the other cheek”, that we not return any harm when someone hurts us. I had not thought about the absurdity of a law that requires us to return in the same measure what has been done to us. I honestly thought that law was fair. Now I see that it gives us permission to harm each other. Jesus showed the inherent weakness in returning bad behavior instead of generous kindness. Just because someone harms me and the law allows me to harm him, doesn’t mean it is moral or good. Why could I never see this before, me the beggar who despised every person that ignored me, taunted me and treated me like I didn’t exist?  Could I have not made some room in my heart to bless them? Maybe they would have been kinder to me. I remember last week Jesus taught that what we give is what is returned to us one hundredfold. Blessing those who taunted me might have resulted in a future blessing coming my way.  An eye for an eye mentality just keeps everything stagnant and no one grows in G-d likeness.

I am coming to admire Jesus, for he is helping me to see, and I don’t just mean with physical eyes. Today my heart saw so many new things.  It is my faith that makes me see, and I am seeing even the law in a fresh way. I want always to see with my eyes of faith.  Although Jesus’ message is challenging, I am willing to try to live this way, giving my brother more than what he asks, returning a blessing for harm.     (Bartimaeus, 28 A.D.)

Lord, Jesus I am so quick to return harm for harm, forgive me. May I be a true peacemaker with generosity towards all.  Amen.

Matthew  5:38-42    Eye for Eye

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’^{[h] 39} But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.