Conquering Evil with Good
Under the ancient law, it was said that one should return an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth… But Jesus teaches us the opposite: “You shall love your enemy; you shall return good for evil; to him who takes away your tunic, give your cloak; if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the left cheek… etc.”
How many times, in our daily lives, could we apply these precepts taught by our Lord? Alas, our susceptible nature is reluctant to bend, and our first reaction is to become indignant, to rebel, and even to react violently. Our heart swells with irritation when faced with a malicious or unpleasant loved one. We are thwarted, or they do not return what we have lent, and already we grumble against the one we consider guilty. Very often, pride, anger, vanity, and irritation prevent us from returning to reason and keeping peace.
Yet, how often do we offend our Lord when He is quick to forgive us? He is the model to follow. Has He not, in every way and always, returned good for evil, forgiven all the offenses, insults, and mistreatment we subject Him to? He once confided to one of His wives that if He had been able to reach the hand of the executioner who nailed Him to the cross, He would have lovingly kissed that sacrilegious hand.
The good we do in response to the evil we suffer is undoubtedly heroic, but if we apply it to small annoyances, we will gradually show ourselves worthy of our Holy Model in even greater wounds. During our Hour of Watch, let us patiently endure all the setbacks God allows; this will console the Heart of Jesus for all the ingratitude of which we ourselves are guilty.