Jesus That

Revenge.   For New England Patriots’ fans – and that’s most of us (not all) – the expression “Roger that” is the two-word expression aimed at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that originated from Tom Brady’s 5th Super Bowl ring and his commercial for Shields MRI.  When putting his fifth ring in a locker, the young lady helping him, said he needed a bigger locker, to which Brady responded, “Roger that.”

This not-so-subtle bit of revenge for that 4-game suspension at the beginning of the football season is now repeated by fans wearing Pats clothing emblazoned with “Roger that.”  It gets the point across. 

And so does our first reading from Leviticus: "You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart.  Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen, do not incur sin because of him.  Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Perhaps the “Roger that” is not revenge but is simply a way of “reproving”  Commissioner Goodell.    

There are many examples of revenge and grudges that are destructive.  We can provide our own examples that have damaged or destroyed relationships, including loving ones within our families.

Revenge is the subject of a post-Super Bowl article in the February 7 Boston Globe front page article written by Kevin Cullen.  It was entitled, “Real impetus wasn’t about getting revenge.”  Cullen stated, “The Super Bowl gave us lessons to chew on – lessons appealing to our better angels, not our coarser thoughts.  It was as if everything our parents, teachers, and coaches have tried to teach us took place in the last 18 minutes of this magnificent spectacle, this Super Bowl.  In the end it wasn’t about revenge…There’s something much stronger, sweeter, and more satisfying than revenge.  It’s called love.  Tom Brady wanted to win the game to put a smile on his mother’s face.”

His mother had been suffering from chemotherapy and radiation treatments.  The game we call life, also should be about love, and not revenge.  And so is our Gospel reading from Matthew that ends with this challenging advice from Jesus:  "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...So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."  In other words: “Love!” Never has such advice been so difficult to heed – love your enemies.   But, we must try.

Also very difficult to understand is this passage from Matthew: “Offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well."  At first, it seems like Jesus is surrendering to abuse and that we should as well.   Not so.

Jesus’ advice resembles the response “Roger that.”  His is a non-violent strategy to protest oppression, or a 4-game suspension.  Otherwise, Jesus seems to recommend passive and willing acceptance of injustice and oppression.  He doesn’t.  Jesus rejected violent resistance and passive acceptance.  He advocated a "third way," a clever, non-violent, effective form of protest.

Try to imagine a strike with the right fist.  Such a blow would fall on the person’s left cheek. 
Think of your mirror image.  So, the only way to hit the right cheek with the right hand is to strike it with a backhand.  You could hit the right cheek with a left-hand fist, but in the Jewish world, the left hand could only be used for unclean tasks.

The backhand on the right cheek was not a blow to injure.  It was to insult, humiliate, and degrade.  The whole point of the back-handed blow was to force someone who was out of line back into place.

Therefore, Jesus is telling the oppressed and degraded Jewish people: “Refuse to accept this kind of treatment anymore.  If they backhand you turn the other check making it impossible for the master to use the backhand again.”  The nose is in the way. 

The other cheek, the left cheek, is a perfect target for a blow with the right fist.  But only equals fought with fists.  By turning the cheek, the one who is stuck is saying without words: “I’m a human being just like you.  I refuse to be humiliated any longer.  I am your equal. I am a child of God.  I won’t take it anymore.”

Revenge tends to be violent in one way or another.  Jesus said to do it his way – a way of love and forgiveness – and turning the other cheek.  His way was made known to us through his words on the cross: “Father, forgive them they know not what they do.”

So, when next we consider revenge, instead, let’s remember the way he lived, what he taught, how he died, and his parting words.  Let’s follow him and simply say: “Jesus that!” 

Deacon David Pierce