Sometimes people are hurting, and in pain, they hurt other people in turn. And when this happens, what is needed is kindness. What is needed is healing.
I just read an article about people who are outraged because a few ultra-Orthodox Jews spit at Christians in a holy procession in Jerusalem.
Look, what they did was wrong. But the Jews have suffered at the hands of Christians for many centuries.
Not that long ago a Christian nation tried to exterminate all Jews.
What is needed now is kindness and love.
For however badly the incident hurt the Christians, I gurantee you, it is nothing compared to how badly the Ultra-Orthodox Jews hurt.
But I say onto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn him the other also. And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two. Jesus of Nazareth, Matthew 5:39-41
It is what they need!
They have been hurting for so long, so badly, through no fault of their own, and this is what they need!
Give them kindness in return for their very minor sin, nothing more than a show of disrespect, which is nothing compared to the pain they feel!
Give them kindness, so as to heal the cause of the pain that came upon the Christians, for the cause of the pain is not the ultra-Orthodox Jews but their pain, and to heal the pain kindness is needed!
This is why we must turn the other cheek, not as Christians, but as Humans and as children of God!
Because this is, above all, when turn the other cheek is needed!
And this is not only a Christian thing!
Their own Old Testament of the Bible asks them to turn the other cheek!
If we were the ones in pain, and they were the ones not in pain, they would turn the other cheek for us!
If Christians were the ones who had wandered for 2,000 years, and Jews were on top of the world, they would do it for us, as their Bible tells them to!
He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled with reproach Lamentations 3:30
It is those ultra-Orthodox Jews that are in pain, they are the ones who need it!
Give kindness, heal the pain of 2,000 years!
Jerusalem needs kindness!
This is an opportunity to heal their pain, to help heal the world!
Give kindness and turn the other cheek, for this will heal the world!
God loves you!
Sincerely,
David S. Annderson