Ave Maria Meditations
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’. What I say to you: do not resist one who is evil but if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Mt 5:38-39)
The Servant of God, Don Dolindo Ruotolo notes that before the Lord, who has infinite justice, there is the true law of retribution, or there is no fault that does not need to be atoned for, and no debt that does not need to be paid. There is something along the lines of a life for life: those who destroy within themselves the life of grace, lose the life of glory. In saying an eye for an eye: those who blind the light of faith within themselves get lost in the blinding darkness of naturalism and become blind even in human matters. To say a tooth for a tooth: those who refuse the food of life, receive the food of disgrace.
The Servant of God goes even further by noting, with the hand for hand, foot for foot, those who do not do good, those who do not walk in God’s ways, sever their most beautiful activities and fall into inertia.
In these explanations we can see that those who are spiritually blind by their lack of faith or by their immoral acts become dark in their souls. And those who fail to do good work and follow the Gospel can become paralyzed in their souls because our choices shape our souls.
(cf) The Servant of God, Don Dolindo Ruotolo
