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Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase, “Go the extra mile.”
I heard it a lot growing up, especially when I did the bare minimum required to get by. For example, if I vacuumed the house but didn’t move tables or light furniture, my mother would say, “Go extra mile.”
Or, if I cooked dinner for myself but not my brother, “Go the extra mile.”
Or when I had something to share but wanted to keep it all to myself, “Go the extra mile.”
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This phrase, “go the extra mile,” dates back to the life of Jesus.
In ancient Rome, citizens were legally obligated when asked to carry messages from the emperor to distant provinces.
While there was a limit on the actual distance one was required to travel, Jesus encouraged them to go even further. “Should anyone press you into service for one mile,” he says, “go with him for two miles.”
Christians stretched this idea of going the extra mile into a spiritual practice of doing more than the bare minimum.
For example, instead of praying for five minutes, pray for ten. Instead of going to Mass alone, pick up a neighbor along the way. Instead of feeding one person in need, feed two. Instead of praying for a person once, pray for them twice.
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How can I go the extra mile today, meaning I not only do something good, but do it even more?
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“Should anyone press you into service for one mile,” Jesus says, go the extra mile.
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Image credits: (1) Sword of the Spirit, Laurie Pierce (2) Charles Stephen – Medium (3) Innovative Transport Solutions