The Extra Mile

[Jesus said:]

‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,^* what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:38-48

St. Martin and the Beggar

MARTINI, Simone

1320

San Francesco (Church)

Assisi, Italy

The beautiful pastel colors of this mural in the Chapel of St. Martin in the lower section of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, provide a visual parallel to the uplifting spiritual moment in which Martin of Tours shares his cloak with a poor man. Tradition holds that from this moment, in which Martin met Christ in the beggar, that Martin lived a life of remarkable commitment to the cause of the poor. He also was a passionate believer in loving one's enemies, once taking a pacifist stand that led to charges of cowardice and eventually to his imprisonment -- "I am a soldier of Christ; I cannot fight."

http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20140218909881591&code=ACT&RC=54239&Row=1