02/19/2017, 14.30
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Pope: Christians have "a duty" to do justice, but "it is forbidden to" seek revenge

Jesus asks his disciples to suffer the bad, in fact, he asked them to react, however not with another evil, but with good. A prayer for the victims of violence in the Central Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular child soldiers, and those affected by the attacks in Pakistan and Iraq.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Jesus taught that Christians have "a duty" to do justice, but we are not allowed to" seek revenge, "as an expression of hatred and violence". Pope Francis once again condemned violence, reminding people gathered in St Peter's Square for the Angelus prayer, of the child soldiers in Congo and the bombings in Pakistan and Iraq.

The commandment that Jesus wants to teach, "the way of true justice," said Francis before the Marian prayer, is expressed in this Sunday’s Gospel (Mt 5.38 to 48), "one of those pages that best express ''the Christian revolution ". Jesus says that the law of love "surpasses that of retaliation, that is, "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. "

This ancient rule required to inflict the penalties on violators equivalent to the damage they caused: death to those who had killed, amputation who had hurt someone, and so on. Jesus asks his disciples to suffer the bad, in fact, he asked them to react, but not with another evil, rather with good. This was intended to break the chain of evil, one evil brings another evil and so on, and really change things. Evil indeed is a 'vacuum' of good, and you cannot fill another void, but only with a 'fullness', that is, with good. Retaliation never leads to conflict resolution. You did this to me, I'll do it to you: this never resolves conflicts and it is not Christian.

For Jesus, the rejection of violence may also involve giving up a legitimate right; and he gives some examples: turning the other cheek, giving up ones clothes or money, accepting other sacrifices (cf. vv. 39-42). But this renunciation does not mean that the demands of justice are being ignored or contradicted; no, on the contrary, Christian love, which is manifested in a special way in mercy, it is a greater realization of justice. What Jesus wants to teach us is the distinction we have to make between justice and revenge. Distinguish between justice and revenge. Revenge is never right. We are allowed to seek justice; it is our duty to do justice. However we are forbidden to take revenge, or in any way incite revenge, as an expression of hatred and violence.

Jesus does not want to propose a new civil order, but rather the next commandment, which also includes love for one's enemies: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (v. 44). This is not easy. This word should not be understood as an endorsement of the evil perpetrated by the enemy, but as an invitation to a higher perspective, magnanimous, similar to that of the Heavenly Father, which, says Jesus, "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust "(v. 45). The enemy, in fact, is a human person, created in God's image as such, although at present tarnished by their misconduct.

When we speak of 'enemies' we must not think about people who are different and far from us; we are also speaking about ourselves, because we can come into conflict with our neighbors, sometimes with family members. How many enmities in families! Enemies are those who speak ill of us, who slander us and do us wrong. It is not easy to digest this. We are called to respond to all of this with good, which also has its strategies, inspired by love.

May the Virgin Mary help us to follow Jesus on this difficult path, which really enhances human dignity and makes us live as children of our Father who is in heaven. Help us to practice patience, dialogue, forgiveness, and to be so craftsmen of communion and fraternity craftsmen in our daily lives, especially in our family."

After the Angelus the pope spoke of victims of violence and terrorism. "There continue - he said - unfortunately to be reports of violent and brutal clashes in the region of Central Kasai in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I strongly feel the pain of the victims, especially the many children torn from their families and school to be used as soldiers. This is a tragedy, child soldiers, I assure you of my closeness and my prayer, for religious and humanitarian personnel working in that difficult region; and renew an urgent appeal to the conscience and responsibility of national authorities and the international community, so that they take appropriate and timely decisions in order to help these our brothers and sisters."

"Let us pray for them and for all populations in other parts of the African continent and the world who suffer because of violence and war. I think, in particular, to the dear people of Pakistan and Iraq, hit by cruel terrorist acts in recent days. We pray for the victims, the wounded and the families. Let us pray fervently that every heart hardened by hatred is converted to peace, according to the will of God."

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