There's often a big difference between perception and reality. I believe St. Paul speaks of this in today's first reading from 2 Corinthians 6. "We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; as unrecognized and yet acknowledged...as sorrowful yet always rejoicing...as having nothing and yet possessing all things."
In our Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus teaches about retribution. He utters the familiar words, "When someone strikes you your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well." Ah, yes, turn the other cheek.
While this can be relevant in so many ways, I want to focus on what may the most difficult way in our day - social media. I've found it very helpful to my spiritual life to stay away from comm boxes. So often, the gloves come off. People "say" things to other people that they would never say to their faces. Snarkiness, backbiting and insults are the order of the day. It can be an easy trap to fall into. Next time someone strikes you on the virtual cheek, try turning the other cheek, or just logging off and saying a prayer.
Father, you know how readily we fall into the eye for an eye mentality. Teach us humility, that we may turn the other cheek, physically and virtually. Amen.
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