2 Cor 6:1-10 / Matthew 5:38-42
Generally speaking, it can be presumed that people are reasonable as long as they are treated fairly.
People are not so petty and they won’t complain over trivial matters.
In other words, in its essence, the human nature is good.
And if people object to something, then that something certainly needs to be addressed.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul says that he and his co-workers will do nothing that people might object to, so as not to bring discredit on their function as God’s servants.
Instead, they prove that they are servants of God by great fortitude in times of suffering, in times of hardship and distress.
St. Paul and his co-workers were careful to not do anything that people might object.
But that is just the minimum. They want to witness to the grace that God has given them to reach higher human values.
In the gospel, Jesus also tells us move from that eye for eye and tooth for tooth mentality.
Jesus tells us to offer the wicked man no resistance, to offer the other cheek, to go the extra mile, and to give without asking for return.
People won’t object to higher human values like love, compassion, forgiveness and kindness.
May we witness to God’s grace and help others to strive for true human values.