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“If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.”
A wisdom that immediately irritates us. Why do I have to suffer the pain twice and be humiliated to achieve peace? – Not a few will ask what good it is. It is nothing more than a wisdom that the ancient Greeks had already recognized over 2500 years ago, namely that of amnesty. There it was prescribed by law and carried out in all its consequences. What does that mean?
The past cannot be undone, as we all know from often painful experiences. The call and desire for revenge, retribution and (supposed) justice is strong. But how can we escape this spiral of abuse, murder, manslaughter and ongoing mutual violence? It is a dilemma that has plagued human history for millennia, and we see the best example of this in the events in the Middle East. War and suffering only lead to new war and suffering – a seemingly endless cycle of horror.
In ancient Greece, it was recognized that a new, untouched leaf must be turned in the book of life. However, this can only happen if not everything old, “insulting and hurtful” continues to be a burden. Therefore, “general forgetting” = amnesty – was prescribed by law. Violation or disregard of this law was punishable by the death penalty or the equivalent exclusion from society (outlaw = was left to his own devices and declared “outlawed”), the highest of all punishments. Amnesty can therefore be seen as a kind of prescribed forgetting. This requires enormous courage from people in terms of greatness and tolerance. This is often not easy. But only through this pain is a new beginning possible and a new, shared life becomes possible.
The Christian faith sees itself as a religion of peace. But what contradiction do we see and read in the daily news?
Today is the second Sunday of Advent. On this day, Christians remember in particular the prophesied redemption from all earthly suffering through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. In the Catholic Church, the focus is on John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12). John announces Jesus in a prophetic speech and demands that the way of the Lord be prepared. It is a call for repentance and a new beginning. There is no mention of a fight or conquest, but rather an invitation to forgiveness and (lasting) peace.
Every peace always begins on a small scale, within ourselves, regardless of external circumstances. Every peace begins or ends when the boundaries between my neighbour and me are crossed. If we are at odds with ourselves, this is usually reflected in our words and actions. Sooner or later, this inner “war” leads to external disputes. That is why it is so important to be at peace with yourself, to “function smoothly”. I cannot demand from others what I am not willing to give myself.
The essential step to inner peace is forgiveness. Only by forgiving others and ourselves can negative emotions be overcome. This does not mean that the actions or incidents were okay. Sometimes only a prescribed forgetting helps here. Then it becomes clear what Jesus meant when he said: “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.” This is not possible without pain. It is a tough struggle, but it can be done if both sides have a sincere interest in it. Peace begins with small steps and gestures. It takes a lot of empathy and creativity to resolve conflicts, as well as other non-violent methods. It is a long learning process and requires emotional maturity, but the journey is worth it.
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image sources
- Advent_Peace_(320_x_240): Peace, Author: Sendai Diocese Support Center For Foreigners, https://thepricklypearcantina.com, Lizenz: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en - frame modified by creativegreen
- amnesty: © https://www.laysalvatorians.org/update