Please read the Scripture passage before the homily.
“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is easy to say, but harder to practice. We have two examples in this passage. The first is about being slapped on the right cheek and the second is about walking the extra mile.
If the person facing you is right-handed, as most people are, that person will probably use the right hand to deliver the slap you. To do this effectively, that person would have to use the back of the right hand, and this is something many people would find to be extremely insulting. How easy would it be to forgive such a person?
How about walking a mile? A mile is not a Hebrew measurement. It comes from the Romans. To walk a mile is to walk like the Romans, the people who were controlling the Jewish people. Jesus seems to be requiring us to give our enemies doubly the good they demansd of us.
Not only is Jesus advocating that we forgive enemies, but even our oppressive and bigger national enemies. What if we were to forgive the Chinese, the Russians, the terrorists, those of the other political party? Would such radical behavior bring upon all of us that radical peace we all hope for?
We have heard it said, “Life as usual”, but Jesus says, “Make radical changes in your attitudes, decisions, and behavior.”