Yielding Grace

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters:

By now Matt and I are well into our canoe adventure in Canada and experiencing the beauty of God first hand. It is so easy to see the grace of God when you are in such a beautiful place. It is so difficult to believe that there is evil in this world while I am enjoying a piece of the Garden of Eden. But that is what Jesus tells us today in the Gospel Reading (Matthew 5:38-42). Jesus puts a new spin on the old law. He elevates the law above a level of righteousness to one that accounts for grace and love. Many of still today like to practice `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,' but Jesus tells that we must be compassionate and understanding. Back in time of Moses, these laws were designed to limit the revenge and retaliation one would inflict in the name of justice. These old laws served to actually limit the punishment. Today, we would think that these limitations are actually cruel and in fact they are. Yet, we still have punishments which are excessively cruel because they destroy human dignity. Punishment like the death penalty is still a punishment based on this old law. Jesus is asking us to avoid evil as a form punishment. He tells us that if someone slaps us on the cheek, we should turn and give them the other. We should not strike back but reach out with love. We are called to respond and not retaliate; we are called to yield grace toward our fellow man. This power of love and grace does more to heal the heart then anything. It is much better to defeat evil with good and not with more evil.

A Simple Prayer Most Merciful Father in Heaven, Teach me to love when I am hateful; Teach me to be joyful when I am unpleasant; Teach me to be peaceful when I am violent; Teach me to be patient when I am restless; Teach me humility when I am arrogant; But most of all, teach me faithfulness when I doubt.

Yours in Christ Michael Marcon