Our Lord told us, “38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you”.  [Harper Bibles (2011-11-22). NRSV Bible with the Apocrypha]

Here is a text to chew on for the rest of our lives! Does this mean that we are to let people get away with anything they want to do?  Here we have a paradox worthy of ultimate concern, the problem of evil and how we respond.

At the stage of contradiction, where most of us live, we face and overwhelming temptation to rise up and with righteous indignation smite the wicked. However, to take up one side of the good/evil split is to sucumb, the result of which is to increase the wave of evil.

What are we to do?  We are to function in such a way as not to increase evil, while doing the good when we are able to discern it. Above all we depend on the God who acts in paradox and his grace to do his work. Any more than that tends toward sin.

Tonight Terry Parsons was to coach Saint John’s Giving Team for, as she puts it, “October is the begging month” in the church.