http://cms.usccb.org/bible/readings/090620.cfm
I quote:
“You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”
Love does no evil to the neighbour;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.
unquote
Many years ago when I approached a martial arts teacher to provide me with self defence lessons, I had expressed an interest in learning Aikido a defensive form that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attackers from injury. I was persuaded by my experienced teacher to learn Wing Chung for he understand that the streets are not filled with gentle souls. Wing Chung is a much more dynamic martials arts style focused on ending an unprovoked assault within two moves ensuring the assailant is not unduly harmed.
So it is on the mean streets that all must walk there being an awareness that there are people who do not always share our belief that violence has no place in the life of a civilised human person.
Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another. ~Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The question arises can self defence be justified when Our Saviour invites us to love our neighbour, as we would wish to be loved.
Talking our way out of disputes, even choosing to over rule our sense of pride, relegating our ego to a non-combat role can lower the temperature sufficiently for words to seek a solution, or compromise.
I have discovered several times over the years that when matters had got out of hand I began to hear an ever so subtle voice speaking to me from within my conscious awareness guiding me to cool down, and let Him take charge of my responses. No violence ensued. On the contrary the other person responded in like manner for they did not want the matter to end in violence.
When facing a dilemma likely to end in violence it is wise to speak with Our Saviour asking for His intervention, providing us with words that will end the developing crisis without violence. It has worked for me enabling me to recommend silent, heartfelt prayer when matters appear to be descending into a hellish exchange of blows.
Though defensive violence will always be 'a sad necessity' in the eyes of men of principle, it would be still more unfortunate if wrongdoers should dominate just men.
~ Augustine of Hippo
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