Daily Readings - Mon Jun 18 2018
1 Kings
1And after these things, in that time, there was a vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, who was in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab, the king of Samaria2Therefore, Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying: "Give your vineyard to me, so that I may make for myself a garden of herbs. For it is nearby and is beside my house. And I will give to you, in place of it, a better vineyard. Or if you consider it to be more convenient for you, I will give you the price in silver, whatever it is worth.3Naboth responded to him, "May the Lord be gracious to me, lest I give to you the inheritance of my fathers.4Then Ahab went into his house, angry and gnashing his teeth over the word that Naboth, the Jezreelite, had spoken to him, saying, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And casting himself on his bed, he turned away his face to the wall, and he would not eat bread5Then Jezebel, his wife, entered to him, and she said to him: "What is this matter, by which your soul has been saddened? And why do you not eat bread?6And he responded to her: "I spoke to Naboth, the Jezreelite, and I said to him: ‘Give your vineyard to me, and accept money. Or if it pleases you, I will give to you a better vineyard, in place of it.’ And he said, ‘I will not give my vineyard to you.’ 7Then Jezebel, his wife, said to him: "You are of great authority, and you rule well in the kingdom of Israel. Rise up and eat bread, and be even-tempered. I will give the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, to you.8And so, she wrote letters in the name of Ahab, and she sealed these with his ring. And she sent to those greater by birth, and to the nobles who were in his city and living with Naboth9And this was the judgment of the letters: "Proclaim a fast, and cause Naboth to sit among the first rulers of the people10And send out two men, sons of Belial, against him. And let them speak the false testimony: ‘He has blasphemed God and king.’ And then lead him away, and stone him, and so let him die.11Then his fellow citizens, those greater by birth and the nobles who were living with him in the city, did just as Jezebel had instructed them, and just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them12They proclaimed a fast, and they caused Naboth to sit among the first rulers of the people13And bringing forward two men, sons of the devil, they caused them to sit opposite him. And they, acting indeed like diabolical men, spoke testimony against him before the multitude: "Naboth has blasphemed God and king." For this reason, they led him away, beyond the city, and they put him to death by stoning14And they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned, and he has died.15Then it happened that, when Jezebel had heard that Naboth was stoned and was dead, she said to Ahab: "Rise up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, who was not willing to acquiesce to you, and to give it to you in exchange for money. For Naboth is not alive, but dead.16And when Ahab had heard this, namely, that Naboth was dead, he rose up and descended to the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, so that he might take possession of it
Matthew
38You have heard that it was said: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.39But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil, but if anyone will have struck you on your right cheek, offer to him the other also40And anyone who wishes to contend with you in judgment, and to take away your tunic, release to him your cloak also41And whoever will have compelled you for one thousand steps, go with him even for two thousand steps42Whoever asks of you, give to him. And if anyone would borrow from you, do not turn away from him
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on our responses to injustice and evil. The first reading from 1 Kings tells the story of Ahab's desire for Naboth's vineyard and Jezebel's cunning plan to seize it through deceit and violence. This narrative highlights the consequences of allowing desire and power to lead us down a path of manipulation and harm. Conversely, the Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus teaching on non-retaliation and love for one's enemies, offering a radical alternative to the cycles of vengeance and violence.
The context of these readings sets the stage for their messages. In 1 Kings, Ahab's kingdom is marked by corruption and abuse of power, illustrating the destructive nature of unchecked ambition. In Matthew, Jesus delivers this teaching as part of the Sermon on the Mount, where He challenges His followers to embrace a higher moral standard—one that transcends the law of retribution and instead advocates for mercy and compassion.
These readings relate through their exploration of how we respond to evil. While Ahab and Jezebel resort to deceit and force, Jesus teaches a way of non-violence and love. This contrast invites us to consider our own responses to injustices. In our daily lives, we often face situations where we must choose between reacting with anger or responding with patience and kindness. The readings encourage us to opt for the latter, trusting in God's justice rather than our own strength.
Applying these teachings to our lives, we are reminded that our responses to adversity should reflect the values of the Kingdom of God. Whether facing minor slights or significant injustices, we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This approach not only transforms our relationships but also aligns our hearts with God's will.
Ultimately, the moral lesson is clear: we are to choose the path of love and non-retaliation. By doing so, we trust in God's providence and justice, rather than resorting to manipulation or violence. This way of living is not only transformative for us but also serves as a witness to the redemptive power of love in a world often marked by conflict and division.