Meditating this passage I've always wondered what Jesus really wants from a father who must protect defend and support his family, making adequate provision for the subsistence and education of his children, and providing that the others respect his own spouse.
Certainly, I thought, he does not want me to leave others to do violence to my wife or my children without reacting, and does not even want me to do that something missing to my family to give my property to a bully who asks it.
I also think that Jesus does not want me to hide under the bed instead of moving to defend my country, its religions, its way of life, and its interests against those who want to spoil it.
Jesus, I thought, spoke to his disciples this hard way, so they couldn't misunderstand His will. In fact this message today should be understood quite literally for consecrated persons, those who have given up on this world to follow Him better.
Moreover, I should say that some situations sometimes require different approach. When it was necessary to drive out the merchants from the temple it does not seem to me that Jesus displayed the same sweetness as he did on all other occasions.
Although certainly, with this Jesus does not ask me, as I'm a layman, to give up the self-defense, whenever necessary to defend my family, myself, and the human group where I'm living, or to prevent malicious attacks.
St. Martin of Tours and the poor.
Let's rembemer that charity towards the poor is the most pleasing gift to God.
I think that Jesus want me a follower who practices charity with all, and that prays for everybody also for those with whom he is commpelled to clash with, and to act always without hatred, avoiding if possible to harm them unnecessarily.
Because charity towards one's neighbor can be done in innumerable aspects and ways, not only by giving a few coins, and the better is the place one occupies in the human society the more are the ways in which one can help others while doing the good of all too.
But above all I think that Jesus in asking me to do everything to keep peace and love into my family and all relatives, trying to transfer them correctly the message of Jesus, more with my example that with words . If everyone acted so the world would be very different
Lino Bertuzzi
THE LEGEND
It was November 11: the sky was overcast cloudy, it was drizzling and blowing a wind that penetrated into the bones; for this the knight was wrapped in his large warrior cloak.
But here along the road there's a poor old man covered with only a few rags, pushed by the wind, staggering and shivering from the cold. Martino looks at him and feels his heart tighten. "Poor fellow, he thinks he will die of frost!" and he thinks how to give him some relief.
A blanket would be enough, but he doesn't have any. Money would be enough, with which the poor could buy a blanket or a dress; but by chance the knight doesn't even have a penny with him.
So what to do? He has that heavy cloak that covers it all. He gets an idea and, since he looks good, he doesn't think twice.
He takes off his cloak, cuts it in two with the sword and gives half to the poor fellow. “God reward you!”, The beggar stammers, and he disappears. St. Martin, happy to have done charity, spurs the horse and goes away in the rain, which begins to fall harder than ever, while an angry wind seems to want to take away even the part of the cloak that barely covers it.
But after a few steps, raining stops , the wind calms down. Soon the clouds clear up and go away. The sky becomes clear, the air becomes mild. The sun begins to warm the earth forcing the rider to take off his half cloak as well. Here is the summer of St. Martin, which is renewed every year to celebrate a beautiful act of charity and also to remind us that charity towards the poor is the most pleasing gift to God.
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Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5:38-48.
Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."
You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."
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