Kindness is a powerful force
My husband and I have chosen to go to another Catholic church after our parish priest berated the whole congregation for having the audacity of being born white and how we should be guilty for it. We both have been disagreeing with the priest's homilies, but that last homily was the final straw. This new church isn't the greatest, but switching churches has been a long time coming.
Anyway, at this new church, there's a new seminarian who looks fresh out of high school. Nothing wrong with that. I'm glad that even in this day and age, there are young men who are willing to serve God. But the last time he said the homily, it sounded like a high school English paper, and my husband and I couldn't help but to smile at the adorable cringey story he told (with way too many adverbs).
So when it was his turn again to say the homily this time, my husband and I side-eyed each other, bracing for another cringe-fest. But I was pleasantly surprised at the insight that he gave (and no, it wasn't nearly as cringey. Just a little bit).
See, I've been reading more passages in Matthew, and the gospel reading for this Sunday was what I had just read the other night:
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.
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
When I read it by myself, I got stuck on the "Eye for Eye" passage. I understand that an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. But I will admit that I had a hard time wrapping my head around what Jesus was saying. Not only just turn the other cheek, but to even give the perpetrator the extra mile. I couldn't really understand it, even after I reflected on it. I understand that I shouldn't just lash out, but I couldn't understand how to even give more of myself to someone who caused me harm.
What a coincidence then that this was the gospel reading. I was really interested to know what the seminarian got out the reading that I couldn't.
He started with a story about being stuck in line at the grocery store. At first, this did not provoke much confidence in me because he picked something so mundane.
But he continued to tell the story of how there was a long line and only one cashier. And the cashier was getting really snappy with the customers. He told how there were two people in front of him in line. The first woman responded to the cashier in a huff and stormed off. But the man behind her in line chose to respond in kindness. The man asked how the cashier was doing that day and looked her in the eyes. The cashier admitted that she was experiencing hardship in her life (I can't remember what the reason was).
But the point of the story was that by the man showing the cashier kindness (when anyone could understand getting mad at her), she relented and opened up, revealing her own hardships. By showing kindness in the face of adversity, we can reveal how others are also going through hard times and show compassion.
It ended up being a beautiful story, and my eyes pricked with tears. I gained a deeper understanding of the Word of God and was shown how kindness really is a powerful force.
Anyway, at this new church, there's a new seminarian who looks fresh out of high school. Nothing wrong with that. I'm glad that even in this day and age, there are young men who are willing to serve God. But the last time he said the homily, it sounded like a high school English paper, and my husband and I couldn't help but to smile at the adorable cringey story he told (with way too many adverbs).
So when it was his turn again to say the homily this time, my husband and I side-eyed each other, bracing for another cringe-fest. But I was pleasantly surprised at the insight that he gave (and no, it wasn't nearly as cringey. Just a little bit).
See, I've been reading more passages in Matthew, and the gospel reading for this Sunday was what I had just read the other night:
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.
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
When I read it by myself, I got stuck on the "Eye for Eye" passage. I understand that an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. But I will admit that I had a hard time wrapping my head around what Jesus was saying. Not only just turn the other cheek, but to even give the perpetrator the extra mile. I couldn't really understand it, even after I reflected on it. I understand that I shouldn't just lash out, but I couldn't understand how to even give more of myself to someone who caused me harm.
What a coincidence then that this was the gospel reading. I was really interested to know what the seminarian got out the reading that I couldn't.
He started with a story about being stuck in line at the grocery store. At first, this did not provoke much confidence in me because he picked something so mundane.
But he continued to tell the story of how there was a long line and only one cashier. And the cashier was getting really snappy with the customers. He told how there were two people in front of him in line. The first woman responded to the cashier in a huff and stormed off. But the man behind her in line chose to respond in kindness. The man asked how the cashier was doing that day and looked her in the eyes. The cashier admitted that she was experiencing hardship in her life (I can't remember what the reason was).
But the point of the story was that by the man showing the cashier kindness (when anyone could understand getting mad at her), she relented and opened up, revealing her own hardships. By showing kindness in the face of adversity, we can reveal how others are also going through hard times and show compassion.
It ended up being a beautiful story, and my eyes pricked with tears. I gained a deeper understanding of the Word of God and was shown how kindness really is a powerful force.
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