A new take on turning the other cheek

Christ Jesus said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:38, 39).

I used to think turning the other cheek meant allowing someone to repeat an offence. But recently it occurred to me that it can mean instead to change our perspective. Maybe it’s a call to think differently about the individual who wronged us. After all, when you turn your head, your view naturally changes.

In this sense, to turn the other cheek is to see more spiritually—to turn away from a material sense of someone in order to see the true, spiritual innocence of the individual—of God’s perfect creation. I’ve found that when I start my prayers with the concept of perfect God and perfect man (meaning everyone), my responses to people and situations become more loving. And I can see more clearly that we are all dwelling in unity with God, divine Love. We are all one with Love.