A man whose foot had been stepped on received an apology, and yet remained offended, because what he wanted was not an apology but satisfaction. That anecdote opens a reflection on Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount about an eye for an eye, turning the other cheek and loving your enemies (Matthew 5). The sermon shows that retaliation never ends a conflict, and that Jesus is not after corrected behavior but a transformed heart, all the way to praying for those who have hurt us. Listen if you carry a wound and do not know what to do with it.
Repay or Forgive? Love or Hate?
Jesus the Way: Through Conflict
Our world is torn by conflicts. We have little influence over those of an international or political nature. However, each of us has an impact on relationships in our immediate surroundings, and even that world is not free from anger, disputes, arguments, and hurt feelings.
As we listen to Jesus’ teachings, we will try to discover what it means that Christ is the Way through conflict. We will reflect on how following Jesus affects the way we deal with anger, resolve misunderstandings, and treat those who hurt us.
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9 sermons
