Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 15, 2020
First Reading: 1 Kings 21.1-16
1Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.2And after this Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money."3But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers."4And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.5But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, "Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?"6And he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.' And he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'"7And Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."8So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city.9And she wrote in the letters, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people.10And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."11And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them,12they proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.13And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones.14Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned; he is dead."15As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead."16And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
Psalm 5
1Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.2Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.3O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.4For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.5The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.6You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.7But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.8Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.9For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.10Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.11But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.12For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Gospel: Matthew 5.38-42
38"You 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 the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.40And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.42Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on our responses to evil and injustice. The first reading from 1 Kings tells the story of King Ahab and his desire for Naboth's vineyard. Ahab's greed and Jezebel's cunning lead to Naboth's unjust death, illustrating the destructive power of unchecked ambition and the abuse of authority. This story is part of a larger narrative in 1 Kings that highlights the moral decay of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, emphasizing the consequences of prioritizing power over justice.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a contrasting vision. Jesus teaches his disciples to respond to evil with love and non-retaliation. He challenges them to go beyond the law of "an eye for an eye" by turning the other cheek, giving more than what is demanded, and loving those who wrong them. This teaching is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus outlines the ethics of the Kingdom of God, calling his followers to live according to a higher standard of love and mercy.
These readings invite us to consider how we respond to injustice and adversity in our own lives. While Ahab and Jezebel chose the path of deceit and violence, Jesus calls us to a different way—one of patience, kindness, and generosity. In our daily interactions, we face moments of conflict and unfairness. The readings challenge us to choose love over anger, forgiveness over resentment, and humility over pride. By embracing this way of life, we not only reflect the values of the Kingdom of God but also find a path to inner peace and dignity, even in the face of adversity.