Well, if God brought everyone to justice here on earth, none of us would be here! If God were to repay us in kind right now for every evil thought and action, with all the power at his disposal, who of us could stand? Instead, God sends Jesus as HIS way of turning the other cheek. Jesus responds to the people who want to do him evil, with forgiveness and the acceptance of suffering. Unconditional forgiveness declared from God, and the suffering of Jesus himself on the cross. And although this strategy goes against all our notions of justice, it's the only strategy that actually works on us! Through the acceptance of Jesus to suffer, and the promise of forgiveness, OUR cycle of evil is broken. We are not ENCOURAGED to do MORE evil by God's forgiveness, instead we are brought into a LOVING relationship with God where our desire for evil is subdued. In fact, in our baptism into Jesus Christ, we are adopted as God's beloved children.
And like Father, like children! God guides us to be cheek-turners personally, because it's the strategy that shows God's love. Joseph in our first reading is a good example. His brothers were going to leave him for dead, but then decided to sell him into slavery instead - might as well make a couple of bucks out of the deal. But when Joseph found himself in a position of great power over his brothers, instead of exacting revenge, of delivering justice, Joseph responded with forgiveness and acceptance of suffering, and that kept the family of Israel together and fed through the famine.
Now OF COURSE, there are people incapable of loving relationships, and we are NOT called to live under their abuse in a constant state of cheek-turning. OF COURSE, there are people dangerous to themselves and others, and they need to be restrained by society. But in the majority of our relationships, we too can keep the golden rule in mind, the one for SINFUL humanity. We should not judge, because we do not want to BE judged. And thanks to Jesus, in place of judgment, we have experienced, AND CAN TRUST IN, forgiveness and acceptance of suffering.
Gracious God, help us to keep your golden rule when our impulses are to push for revenge clothed as justice. Remind us always of the forgiveness and suffering that has made us your children, in Jesus name, amen.