Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 365
Lectionary: 365
Naboth the
Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel
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.
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 PS 5:2-3AB, 4B-6A, 6B-7
R. (2b) Lord, listen to my groaning.
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.
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.
Gospel MT 5:38-42
Jesus said to his
disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
An 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.”
“You have heard that it was said,
An 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.”
Meditation: Do
not return evil for evil
If someone insults you or tries to take
advantage of you, how do you respond? Do you repay in kind? Jesus approached
the question of just retribution with a surprising revelation of God's
intention for how we should treat others, especialy those who mistreat us. When
Jesus spoke about God’s law, he did something no one had done before. He gave a
new standard based not just on the requirements of justice - giving each their
due - but based on the law of grace, love, and freedom.
Law of grace and love
Jesus knew the moral law and its intention better than any jurist or legal expert could imagine. He quoted from the oldest recorded law in the world: If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe (Exodus 21:23-25). Such a law today seems cruel, but it was meant to limit vengeance as a first step towards mercy. This law was not normally taken literally but served as a guide for a judge in a law court for assessing punishment and penalty (see Deuteronomy 19:18).
Jesus knew the moral law and its intention better than any jurist or legal expert could imagine. He quoted from the oldest recorded law in the world: If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe (Exodus 21:23-25). Such a law today seems cruel, but it was meant to limit vengeance as a first step towards mercy. This law was not normally taken literally but served as a guide for a judge in a law court for assessing punishment and penalty (see Deuteronomy 19:18).
The Old Testament is full of references to the
command that we must be merciful: You shall not take vengeance or bear
any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your
neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD (Leviticus
19:18). If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is
thirsty, give him water to drink (Proverbs 25:21). Do not say,
"I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what
he has done" (Proverbs 24:29). Let him give his cheek to the
smiter, and be filled with insults (Lamentations 3:30).
Jesus does something quite remarkable and
unheard of. He transforms the law of mercy with grace, forebearance, and
loving-kindness. Jesus also makes clear that there is no room for retaliation.
We must not only avoid returning evil for evil, but we must seek the good of
those who wish us ill. Do you accept insults, as Jesus did, with no resentment
or malice? When you are compelled by others to do more than you think you
deserve, do you insist on your rights, or do you respond with grace and
cheerfulness?
Grace of the Holy Spirit
What makes a disciple of Jesus Christ different from everyone else? What makes Christianity distinct from any other religion? It is grace - treating others, not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated - with loving-kindness and mercy. Only the cross of Jesus Christ can free us from the tyranny of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment and gives us the courage to return evil with good. Such love and grace has power to heal and to save from destruction. The Lord Jesus suffered insult, abuse, injustice, and death on a cross for our sake. Scripture tells us that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin and guilt (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7, I John 1:7, Revelation 1:5). Since God has been merciful towards us through the offering of his Son, Jesus Christ, we in turn are called to be merciful towards our neighbor, even those who cause us grief and harm. Do you know the power and freedom of Christ’s redeeming love and mercy?
What makes a disciple of Jesus Christ different from everyone else? What makes Christianity distinct from any other religion? It is grace - treating others, not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated - with loving-kindness and mercy. Only the cross of Jesus Christ can free us from the tyranny of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment and gives us the courage to return evil with good. Such love and grace has power to heal and to save from destruction. The Lord Jesus suffered insult, abuse, injustice, and death on a cross for our sake. Scripture tells us that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin and guilt (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7, I John 1:7, Revelation 1:5). Since God has been merciful towards us through the offering of his Son, Jesus Christ, we in turn are called to be merciful towards our neighbor, even those who cause us grief and harm. Do you know the power and freedom of Christ’s redeeming love and mercy?
"O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray,
with the graces of your Holy Spirit; with love, joy, peace, patience,
gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. Teach us to
love those who hate us; to pray for those who despitefully use us; that we may
be the children of your love, our Father, who makes the sun to rise on the evil
and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant
us grace to be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; may we guard the door of
our lips; may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after
heavenly things; through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Prayer of Anselm, 1033-1109 AD)
 Something Radically New. 2014-06-16 |
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Matthew 5: 38-42
Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard
that it was said, An 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."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, you present a message that is not easy for my
fallen nature to accept. However, I believe in your words, and I trust in you
because you alone have the words of eternal life. As I begin this moment of
prayer, I turn to you as one in need. I want only to please you in all I do.
Petition: Lord, help me to embrace your call to turn
the other cheek.
1. The Leitmotif: Can we discover a
unifying thread in this week’s Gospel readings? One that stands out is the
radical newness of Christ’s Kingdom. It is new in its fundamental principle:
a charity that must extend to loving one’s very enemies (Monday and Tuesday).
It is new in the intentions which must motivate all our actions (Wednesday).
It is new in the way we are to pray to our Father in heaven (Thursday). And,
finally, it is new in the radical demands it places upon us as followers of
Christ: We must make this Kingdom our only treasure (Friday) and seek it
above everything else in life (Saturday). What a privilege to be called to
the mission of helping to establish such a Kingdom! What a joy, what an
honor, what a glory to be the subjects of such a King! Do people encounter a
“newness”, a freshness, in my approach to life? Is it rooted in Christ’s new
teaching?
2. A New Legislator: We
find ourselves at the heart of Christ’s discourse in his Sermon on the Mount.
Our Lord attributes to himself an authority that must have startled and even
shocked his Jewish listeners. He claims the power to alter what has been
proclaimed in the very Law of Moses and the prophets — the absolute source of
authority for the Jewish faith. Remember that God gave Moses the Ten
Commandments, and God put his word in the mouths of the prophets. So when
Jesus says, “You have heard it said…. But I say to you...,” only two
alternatives are possible: Either Christ is a madman, or he is truly the Son
of God, the one who has come “not to abolish the law and the prophets, but to
fulfill them.” I may agree that he is truly the Son of God, but do I embrace
all of his teachings?
3. Turning the Other Cheek: It would certainly
be hard to find words more radical than these. Who would dare to speak them,
if not the Son of God himself? He would live them out fully in his own life,
allowing himself to be nailed to the cross by evil men. But is it really
possible for us to live them as his followers, as Christians? Do we really
turn the other cheek when someone strikes us? If people demand something of
us unjustly, do we give them even more than they ask? What could be the
purpose of these commands from Christ, which seem to leave us vulnerable and
defenseless? In the end, it is only such heroic charity that will be able to
win over evil men to the cause of the Gospel. And that is precisely what
Christ, our Savior, longs for. “God … desires all men to be saved and to come
to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I long to have
a heart that is more like yours. Warm my selfish heart so that I will
lovingly turn the other cheek as you ask of me. Help me to grow in zeal for
all men to be saved and to come to know you in their lives.
Resolution: I will do an act of kindness for someone with whom it is
difficult for me to get along.
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ELEVENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME, MONDAY, JUNE 16, MATTHEW
5:38-42
(1 Kings 21:1-16; Psalm 5)
(1 Kings 21:1-16; Psalm 5)
KEY VERSE: "But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil" (v 39).
READING: The Law of Moses was intended to limit the extent of vengeance that could be taken against someone who inflicted an injury (Ex 21:23-24). This law of retaliation (Lex Talionis), an "eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," may be described as the law of 'tit for tat.' It stated that punishment could not exceed the wrong that was done to someone. In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, he taught that the law of love prohibited revenge and retribution. He emphasized that there were no limits to be placed on Christian forgiveness and love. His disciples must go an "extra mile" in response to another's need, even at their own expense. They were to give generously without expecting repayment. In today's violent world, Jesus reminds us not to repay injury with evil. St. Augustine said: "Forgiveness has two daughters: Justice and Compassion."
REFLECTING: Does capital punishment promote Jesus' teaching on non-violence or does it further the cycle of vengeance and retaliation?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to be a peace-making member of my community.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Aim Higher
It’s easy to feel good about yourself when you compare your
behavior and life to those more sinful than yourself. Aim higher.
Lord, listen to my groaning
Lord, listen to my groaning.Dear Lord, sometimes it can be hard to follow you. Today we learn about losing a vineyard to another’s greed as a result of sticking to a principle. You tell us to turn the other cheek for a second blow, to give away one’s cloak and to go the extra mile. It is easier to give to a beggar than to one who has wronged us. What do we do when we want to do what you ask but self-love tugs strongly the other way? We could get to know you in constant prayer. Always we need to give you our trust and ask for help in difficult times. We know that you never get tired of us asking for help to ‘follow you more nearly and love you more dearly’ because you love each one of us dearly.
June
16
St. John Francis Regis
(1597-1640)
St. John Francis Regis
(1597-1640)
Born into a family of some wealth, John Francis was so impressed
by his Jesuit educators that he himself wished to enter the Society of Jesus.
He did so at age 18. Despite his rigorous academic schedule he spent many hours
in chapel, often to the dismay of fellow seminarians who were concerned about
his health. Following his ordination to the priesthood, he undertook missionary
work in various French towns. While the formal sermons of the day tended toward
the poetic, his discourses were plain. But they revealed the fervor within him
and attracted people of all classes. Father Regis especially made himself
available to the poor. Many mornings were spent in the confessional or at the
altar celebrating Mass; afternoons were reserved for visits to prisons and hospitals.
The
Bishop of Viviers, observing the success of Father Regis in communicating with
people, sought to draw on his many gifts, especially needed during the
prolonged civil and religious strife then rampant throughout France. With many
prelates absent and priests negligent, the people had been deprived of the
sacraments for 20 years or more. Various forms of Protestantism were thriving
in some cases while a general indifference toward religion was evident in other
instances. For three years Father Regis traveled throughout the diocese,
conducting missions in advance of a visit by the bishop. He succeeded in
converting many people and in bringing many others back to religious
observances.
Though
Father Regis longed to work as a missionary among the North American Indians in
Canada, he was to live out his days working for the Lord in the wildest and
most desolate part of his native France. There he encountered rigorous winters,
snowdrifts and other deprivations. Meanwhile, he continued preaching missions
and earned a reputation as a saint. One man, entering the town of Saint-Andé,
came upon a large crowd in front of a church and was told that people were
waiting for "the saint" who was coming to preach a mission.
The last
four years of his life were spent preaching and in organizing social services,
especially for prisoners, the sick and the poor. In the autumn of 1640, Father
Regis sensed that his days were coming to a conclusion. He settled some of his
affairs and prepared for the end by continuing to do what he did so well:
speaking to the people about the God who loved them. On December 31, he spent
most of the day with his eyes on the crucifix. That evening, he died. His final
words were: "Into thy hands I commend my spirit."
He was
canonized in 1737.
Comment:
John longed to travel to the New World and become a missionary to the Native Americans, but he was called instead to work among his own compatriots. Unlike many famous preachers, he isn’t remembered for golden-tongued oratory. What people who listened to him heard was his own fervent faith, and it had a powerful effect on them. We can recall homilists who impressed us for the same reason. More importantly for us, we can also remember ordinary people, neighbors and friends, whose faith and goodness touched us and brought us to deeper faith. That is the calling most of us must follow.
John longed to travel to the New World and become a missionary to the Native Americans, but he was called instead to work among his own compatriots. Unlike many famous preachers, he isn’t remembered for golden-tongued oratory. What people who listened to him heard was his own fervent faith, and it had a powerful effect on them. We can recall homilists who impressed us for the same reason. More importantly for us, we can also remember ordinary people, neighbors and friends, whose faith and goodness touched us and brought us to deeper faith. That is the calling most of us must follow.
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 5,38-42
Lectio:
Monday, June 16, 2014
Ordinary Time
1)
OPENING PRAYER
Almighty God,
our hope and our strength,
without you we falter.
Help us to follow Christ
and to live according to your will.
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
our hope and our strength,
without you we falter.
Help us to follow Christ
and to live according to your will.
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2)
GOSPEL READING - MATTHEW 5,38-42
Jesus said to his disciples: 'You have heard how it was said:
Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer no resistance to
the wicked. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him
the other as well; if someone wishes to go to law with you to get your tunic,
let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone requires you to go one mile, go
two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks you, and if anyone wants to borrow,
do not turn away.
3)
REFLECTION
• Today’s Gospel forms part of a small literary unit which goes
from Mt 5, 17 to Mt 5, 48, in which is described how to pass from the ancient
justice of the Pharisees (Mt 5, 20) to the new justice of the Kingdom of God
(Mt 5, 48). It describes how to go up to the Mountain of the Beatitudes, from
where Jesus announces the new Law of Love. The great desire of the Pharisees
was to live in justice, to be just before God. And this is the desire of all of
us. Just is the one who succeeds to live where God wants him/her to live. The
Pharisees tried to attain justice through the strict observance of the Law.
They thought that with their own effort they could succeed in being where God
wanted them to be. Jesus takes a stand concerning this practice and announces
the new justice which should exceed, surpass the justice of the Pharisees (Mt
5, 20). In today’s Gospel we are reaching almost the summit of the mountain.
Only a little is lacking. The summit is described in one phrase: “Be perfect as
your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5, 48), on which we will meditate in
tomorrow’s Gospel. Let us look closely at this last degree which is still
lacking to reach the summit of the Mountain, of which Saint John of the Cross
says: “Here reign silence and love”.
• Matthew 5, 38: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. Jesus quotes a
text of the Ancient Law saying: “You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye
and tooth for tooth!” He shortened the text, because the complete text said:
“Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound
for wound, blow for blow” (Ex 21, 23-25). Like in the previous cases, here also
Jesus makes a completely new rereading. The principle “eye for eye, tooth for
tooth” was already found in the origin of the interpretation which the Scribes
made of the law. This principle should be overthrown, because it perverts and
destroys the relationship between persons and with God.
• Matthew 5, 39ª: Do not give back evil for evil received. Jesus
affirms exactly the contrary: “But I say to you do not offer resistance to the
wicked”. Before some violence received, our natural reaction is to pay the
other one with the same coin. Vengeance asks for “eye for eye, tooth for
tooth”. Jesus asks to pay back the evil not with evil, but with good. Because
if we do not know how to overcome the violence received, the spiral of violence
will take up everything and we will not know what to do. Lamec said: For a
wound received I will kill a man, and for a scar I would kill a young person.
If the vengeance of Cain was worth seven that of Lamec will count for
seventy-seven” (Gen 4, 24). And it was precisely because of this terrible act
of vengeance that everything ended in the confusion of the Tower of Babel. (Gen
11,1-9). Faithful to the teaching of Jesus, Paul writes in the Letter to the
Romans: “Never pay back evil with evil; let your concern be to do good to all
men. Do not allow yourselves to be overcome by evil but overcome evil with
good” (Rm 12, 17.21). To be able to have this attitude is necessary to have
much faith in the possibility to recover that the human being has. How can we
do this in practice? Jesus offers four concrete examples.
• Matthew 5, 39b-42: the four examples to overcome the spiral of
violence. Jesus says: “rather (a) if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer
him the other as well; (b) if anyone wishes to go to Law with you to get your
tunic, let him have your cloak as well. (d) And if anyone requires you to go
one mile, go two miles with him. (e) Give to anyone who asks you, and if anyone
wants to borrow, do not turn away” (Mt 5, 40-42). How are these four
affirmations to be understood? Jesus himself helps us to understand. When the
soldier hit him on the cheek, he did not offer the other cheek. Rather, he
reacted with energy: “If there is some offence in what I said, point it out,
but if not, why do you strike me?” (Jn 18, 23) Jesus does not teach us to be
passive. Saint Paul thinks that paying evil with good “you will make others be
ashamed” (Rm 12, 20). This faith in the possibility to recover the human being is
possible only beginning from the root which comes from the total gratuity of
the creative love which God shows us in the life and the attitudes of Jesus.
4)
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• Have you some time felt within you such a great anger as to
want to apply the vengeance “eye for eye, tooth for tooth”? What did you do to
overcome this?
• Does life in community, living together, favour today in the
Church and in us the creative love which Jesus proposes in today’s Gospel?
5)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Give ear to my words, Yahweh,
spare a thought for my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God! To you I pray. (Ps 5,1-2)
spare a thought for my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God! To you I pray. (Ps 5,1-2)
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