There is a passage in Matthew 5 that challenges almost everything we naturally understand about strength, justice and self protection. Jesus takes the familiar Old Covenant principle of “an eye for an eye” and introduces a completely different way of responding when we are wronged. He says, “Do not resist the one who is evil.”

We have all experienced hurt in church and in relationships. Sometimes the people we expect to encourage us disappoint us. A leader may respond wrongly. A trusted partner may betray confidence. Someone we helped may later forget that kindness and turn against us. We forgive. We continue building. But these experiences raise an important spiritual