Daily Readings - Mon Jun 18 2018
1 Kings
1And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.2And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.3And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.4And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.5But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?6And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.7And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.8So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.9And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:10And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.11And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.12They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.13And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.14Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.15And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.16And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
Matthew
38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
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.