Imitating the Lord’s example of non-violence involves practicing self-giving love.

It is an ethic centered on confronting hostility without retaliation,

requiring profound inner strength to overcome the natural human impulse for vengeance.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

1 Kings 21:1-16

Now Naboth,

A man from Jezreel, owned a vineyard just beside the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.

Ahab asked Naboth, "Give me your vineyard which is near my house that I may use it for a vegetable garden.

I will give you a better vineyard in exchange. Or, if you prefer, I will pay you its price."

But Naboth said to Ahab, "Yahweh forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers."

 

So Ahab went home angry and sad because of what Naboth had told him,

that he would not give him the inheritance of his fathers.

So he lay down on his bed with his face turned toward the wall and refused to eat.

His wife Jezebel came to him and said, "Why are you so angry that you refuse to eat?" He answered,

"I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and asked him to sell me

his vineyard or to exchange it for another one in exchange;

but he answered: I will not give you my vineyard."

 

His wife Jezebel said to him, "Are you not king of Israel?

Get up and eat and be joyful, for I will give you the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel."

So Jezebel wrote letters using Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal,

and sent the letters to the elders and important persons living near Naboth.

This is what she wrote in the letters: "Declare a fast and put Naboth on trial.

Get two scoundrels to accuse him in this way:

'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."

 

The people, the elders and the important persons who lived in his city did as Jezebel

had instructed them in the letters she sent to them.

They declared a fast and put Naboth on trial.

The two worthless fellows came in and sat facing him, accusing Naboth before the people,

"Naboth cursed God and the king!" So the people took him outside the city and stoned him to death.

They then sent word to Jezebel that Naboth had been stoned and was dead.

As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she told Ahab,

"Now take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, the man of Jezreel who refused to sell it to you,

for Naboth is now dead." As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead,

he went down to the vineyard of Naboth and took possession of it.

 

Ps 5:2-3ab, 4b-6a, 6b-7

 Lord, listen to my groaning.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 5:38-42

You have heard that it was said: An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

But I tell you this: do not oppose evil with evil; if someone slaps you on your right cheek,

turn and offer the other. If someone sues you in court for your shirt, give him your coat as well.

If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give when asked,

and do not turn your back on anyone who wants to borrow from you.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Disarming paradox.

The biblical principle of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" was already a significant improvement

compared to the wild and brutal reactions of those consumed by violence over a wrong suffered.

However, it was certainly not sufficient in the Lord's logic, who proposed an

 

innovative vision. Jesus advocates for a disarming paradox: offering your cheek to those who slap you.

This idea must be well understood, as it is often used to ridicule Christians and persecute them.

Jesus himself did not turn the other cheek to the guard who slapped him before the high priest;

instead, he asked him why he did so. Turning your cheek signifies maintaining a loyal

and convincing demeanor that seeks to foster understanding with those who wrong you.

 

The balance we are required to keep in our society is difficult to achieve but possible:

we must not adapt to the growing violence that infects every place, language, and daily habit,

while at the same time, we must not be submissive or become the doormat on which everyone

wipes their feet in the name of Christian submissiveness. Let us imitate the Lord in his masculine pacifism.