11th Week in Ordinary Time
Break the spiral of evil
Introduction
It is the continuous temptation of people to get what we want, if necessary by unjust means and by exploiting others, like Ahab expropriating the vineyard of Naboth.
Jesus tells us not to repay the unjust by revenge. “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is not Christian. We must rather suffer injustice and let people take advantage of us, at least, when the injustice is done against us. But other parts of the Scriptures tell us to defend others if they are wronged, like the poor, and to fight injustice through goodness and forgiveness. That is how we must break the spiral of evil.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
the injustice found in the world upsets us.
Forgive us the wrongs we have committed
and do not allow us to add
to the evil in the world
by exploiting our brothers and sisters
and using them for our own purposes.
Rather, teach and help us
to stand up for integrity and truth,
not to take revenge
but out of the goodness of our hearts.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
Reading 1: 1 Kings 21:1-16
next to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.
Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to be my vegetable garden,
since it is close by, next to my house.
I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or,
if you prefer, I will give you its value in money.”
Naboth answered him, “The LORD forbid
that I should give you my ancestral heritage.”
Ahab went home disturbed and angry at the answer
Naboth the Jezreelite had made to him:
“I will not give you my ancestral heritage.”
Lying down on his bed, he turned away from food and would not eat.
His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him,
“Why are you so angry that you will not eat?”
He answered her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite
and said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard, or,
if you prefer, I will give you a vineyard in exchange.’
But he refused to let me have his vineyard.”
His wife Jezebel said to him,
“A fine ruler over Israel you are indeed!
Get up.
Eat and be cheerful.
I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and,
having sealed them with his seal,
sent them to the elders and to the nobles
who lived in the same city with Naboth.
This is what she wrote in the letters:
“Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.
Next, get two scoundrels to face him
and accuse him of having cursed God and king.
Then take him out and stone him to death.”
His fellow citizens—the elders and nobles who dwelt in his city—
did as Jezebel had ordered them in writing,
through the letters she had sent them.
They proclaimed a fast and placed Naboth at the head of the people.
Two scoundrels came in and confronted him with the accusation,
“Naboth has cursed God and king.”
And they led him out of the city and stoned him to death.
Then they sent the information to Jezebel
that Naboth had been stoned to death.
When Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death,
she said to Ahab,
“Go on, take possession of the vineyard
of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you,
because Naboth is not alive, but dead.”
On hearing that Naboth was dead, Ahab started off on his way
down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite,
to take possession of it.
Responsorial Psalm
Hearken to my words, O LORD,
attend to my sighing.
Heed my call for help,
my king and my God!
R. Lord, listen to my groaning.
At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.
For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;
no evil man remains with you;
the arrogant may not stand in your sight.
R. Lord, listen to my groaning.
You hate all evildoers.
You destroy all who speak falsehood;
The bloodthirsty and the deceitful
the LORD abhors.
R. Lord, listen to my groaning.
Alleluia
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
9An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.)
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”
Intercessions
– That in our world, people may learn not to repay violence with more violence, but as much as possible resist evil in a nonviolent way, we pray:
– That reconciliation may be the mark of Christians when they have suffered from personal enmity and hurt, we pray:
– That we may have the courage to stand up for the injustice done to the poor and those exploited, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God, our Father,
in these signs of bread and wine,
we bring before you our willingness
to be just and fair to every person.
But we ask you even for more.
Give us the disposition of your Son,
that we may forgive wholeheartedly
those who have wronged us,
and repay evil with kindness.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
you have shown your goodness to us
by giving us your own Son.
With him, we want to be on the side
of the poor and the disinherited.
Do not allow us to remain silent
when people are trampled upon,
but give us the courage and the patience
to make this cold world
a place of justice and respect for people
and warm it with the love
of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
Break the spiral of evil! Each of us, in her or his own place, has to do away with evil, in oneself, and as much as one can in one’s family, occupation and employment and community. May God give you the strength and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Commentary
17 June 2024
Matthew 5:38-42
Embracing Radical Kindness
In a society where seeking retribution appears acceptable, Jesus challenges the established order. He teaches, “Do not retaliate against an evildoer.” Instead of seeking payback, let’s opt for benevolence. When struck on one cheek, present the other—not out of feebleness, but as an assertion of resistance against aggression.
Imagine a scenario where you are being taken to court for an accident that was beyond your control. In this situation, Jesus advises us to go and see the individual who brought the lawsuit against us. The key is not about coming out on the losing end but rather about displaying generosity. When we go above and beyond what is being asked of us, we are demonstrating a mindset that prioritizes relationships over material possessions.
When required to walk a mile, willingly go two. When given an extra task beyond your usual responsibilities, perform it with extra attention, even if it’s not to your liking. This is not just mindless compliance; it’s a powerful act of transformation. Surpassing expectations demonstrates care and disrupts limiting patterns. Let’s be the individuals who change the narrative!
Jesus motivates us to give without hesitation. When approached, don’t reject the request. Being generous isn’t only about tangible possessions; it’s about extending forgiveness, empathy, and kindness. Let’s become streams of compassion in a world that lacks it.
Let’s adopt this revolutionary approach of compassion to transform our world. Keep in mind that we have the ability to impact lives today. nothing is more important in life than personal integrity. All material things, regardless of their worth, are fleeting. What profit have we if we gain the whole world and lose our own soul?