HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II.

HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II. Readings: 1 Kings 21:1-16; Psalm 5 and Matthew 5:38-42. DO NOT RESIST ONE WHO IS EVIL. 15.06.2020.

 

What a sad story that was presented to us in the first reading of today, the judicial murder of the innocent Naboth is a glaring example of injustice. The story of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel towards Naboth expresses the misuse of power and a picture of a society where the ordinary people are seen as nothing and their human rights are being disregarded. Though King Ahab was unable to harm Naboth directly, but was a complicit to the crime of his wife for condoling evil just to have their will. Their combined crime of man’s inhumanity to man cried out to heaven for vengeance.

 

The Gospel of today present to us a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Christ interprets the law of retribution, “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 one who do evil. If any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also…” In Christ’s interpretation of the Mosaic Law on retribution, he calls us to patiently bear insults and offenses of others and not to repay evil with evil, but to show mercy and goodness instead. The worst instinct in nature is to mistreat those who have intended us nothing but good. The crucifixion of Jesus is the supreme example of that. It is a much nobler instinct to seek to resolve evil through goodness. Christ lived and died to overcome evil with good. So he calls us as Christians to do the same, even in the face of injustice, just like the case of Naboth, of which he said, “If anyone will sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well.”  

 

As we reflect on the law of retribution, being patience with our enemies, I remember a friend whose name is “Patient,” she said she is tired of bearing this name and will prefer she is called “Pat” or “Patricia.” According to her, the name is synonymous to enduring suffering which was affecting her already and can no longer continue with the pains and sufferings she was passing through. To cut the story short, it is incredibly hard to stay patient if others do us harm, or remain loving in the face of scorn, or faithful in the face of infidelity. Nobody could live by that ideal through human resources alone. Sometimes, it could cost us our life; we just need God’s grace and the promptings of God’s Spirit, to follow such a pacifist and peace-making lifestyle to be patience with those that could be direct or indirect enemies, which could be your immediate ones such as your husband, your wife, your children, and your boss at work or even co-workers. Let us leave revenge aside, keep being good and let God fight the battle for us. May God grand us His grace in difficult moments with our adversaries through Christ our Lord. Amen!

 

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ