“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 the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” –Matthew 5:38-39
If you read my “Lesson From Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver” post, you might remember me mention a particular person and how I would have liked nothing better than to get back at them for hurting me. I soon began thinking of clever ways in which I could get revenge for having my feelings hurt in such a disrespectful way. It was so tempting to makes him feel as hurt as he made me. The only thing stopping me was when I wondered, “Is this the right thing to do?”
I hope you all know the story of Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader. I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to both mine and Anakin’s situations. When Anakin returned home after being away for Jedi training, he is told that his mother, Shmi, had been taken by a group of Tuscan Raiders. Anakin goes to save Schmi, but his efforts were in vain as Shmi dies right when Anakin finally finds her.
Sorry, for the Attack of the Clones clip 
But as you saw, Anakin did what any of us would have done: he got angry and wanted to get back at the people who did him wrong (which he did). But even when he killed the first few Tuscan Raiders, that still wasn’t enough. He even killed the ones who probably had nothing to do with Shmi’s death. Even after he had gotten his revenge, Anakin still felt angry and unsatisfied.
“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”- Romans 12:17-21
I felt like Anakin, in a way. I let myself be absorbed by my anger and bitterness for this person who hurt me. Like Anakin, I was thinking of ways I could stand up for myself and return the pain this particular person had caused me. But as I was stewing in my saltiness, a voice in the back of my head asked, “Would this be right? Would it make me feel any better? What’s the real purpose of doing this? “ Was Anakin satisfied after he got his revenge? Revenge wasn’t an “I’ll only do it once” kind of thing for Anakin on his road to the Dark Side. Like Anakin, we can let our emotions get the best of us and cause us to make impulsive decisions we may later regret (probably why Jedis don’t live by emotions) This one act of revenge caused him to do more things that Anakin thought was ok, but really they weren’t. All these things turned Anakin into someone he didn’t recognize. All of his feelings of anger and unsatisfactory with not getting his way only turned him into something evil.
Thinking about how Anakin’s revenge lead him to turn to the Dark Side only made me wonder if getting my revenge was truly worth it. As said in the scripture above, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all” Easier said than done. It’s still tempting to get back at this person, but right thing to do would to let it go and more on with my life.
“I will take revenge; I will pay them back. In due time their feet will slip. Their day of disaster will arrive and their destiny will over take them. Indeed, the Lord will give justice to his people and he will change his mind about his servants, when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free”- Deuteronomy 32:35-36
i took this as a “what goes around, comes around” kind of thing. To me, this says, why spend your time plotting your revenge when they’ll get what’s coming to them? Why rely on your own understanding when you have God behind you? This one person is just a bar in a prison I have been building for myself. I really don’t have to let this person make me feel upset and bitter. Revenge does sound like fun, but It’s all up to you whether you choose to let go and move on, or give in like Anakin. May the Force be with you.
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”-Romans 12:19
Geeks of the Gospel 