Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time
17th June 2024 (Monday)
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 1 Kings 21:1-16
At that time: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And 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.” But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And 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. But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?” And 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.’” And 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.” So 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. And she wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. And 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.” And 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, they proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. And 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. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.” As 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.” And 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 5:2-3, 5-6, 7 (R. 2b)
R/. O Lord, give heed to my sighs
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light for my path.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 5:38-42
At that time: 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, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Monday – Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: There is always a sharp contrast between the people of God and the people of the world. The former often seem to be losers and despised and the latter, winners and victors. But in God’s sight, it is the reverse!
1. Greed, deception, and harm to others mark the world of today. Greed drives many to deceive and destroy others so that they get what they desire. They are never satisfied with what they have; even the abundance they may possess will not content them. They become so deceitful and manipulative. They go to any extent even to eliminate others and achieve what they aspire to.
2. Ahab the king of Samaria and his wife Jezebel in the first reading stand as typical examples of this mentality of the world above-mentioned. Despite the abundance of their lands, they covet Naboth’s small vineyard. Naboth refuses to part with his land. They should have respected his decision. Instead, Jezebel plots and implicates Naboth in a false case of cursing God and the king. Consequently, Naboth gets stoned and killed and his land is confiscated by the king.
3. Against such a worldly mentality of false values, Jesus proposes a contrast-set of values. It is not the spirit of unforgiveness, grudge, and retaliation that seeks “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. But it is Christ’s spirit of forbearance and forgiveness that offers the other cheek also to the one who slaps on one.
4. It is not the spirit of greed or profit or self-interest. But it is the new spirit of sensitivity and generosity that gives readily to those who beg or borrow. It is not the spirit of fighting for rights suing you to take away your tunic. But it is the contrast-spirit of giving up one’s legitimate rights and parting with the cloak as well. It is not the spirit of becoming so calculative and refusing to walk a mile with the other. But it is the generous spirit of walking an “extra mile”.
Practice: What are the values that are taking hold of me and guiding me? Is it greed or generosity? Is it retaliation or reconciliation? Whom do I resemble – Ahab and Jezebel or Christ and his true disciples?
