Liturgy Alive, Models of Celebrations

1 Kgs 21:1–16; Ps 5:2 –3ab, 4b – 6a, 6b–7; Mt 5:38 – 42

Daily Gospel

First Reading: 1 Kgs 21:1–16

Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace
of Ahab, king of Samaria. Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your
vineyard to be my vegetable garden, since it is close by, next
to my house. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or,
if you prefer, I will give you its value in money.” Naboth answered
him, “The LORD forbid that I should give you my ancestral
heritage.” Ahab went home disturbed and angry at the
answer Naboth the Jezreelite had made to him: “I will not give
you my ancestral heritage.” Lying down on his bed, he turned
away from food and would not eat.

His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, “Why are
you so angry that you will not eat?” He answered her, “Because
I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Sell me your
vineyard, or, if you prefer, I will give you a vineyard in exchange.’
But he refused to let me have his vineyard.” His wife
Jezebel said to him, “A fine ruler over Israel you are indeed!
Get up. Eat and be cheerful. I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth
the Jezreelite for you.”

So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and, having sealed them
with his seal, sent them to the elders and to the nobles who
lived in the same city with Naboth. This is what she wrote in
the letters: “Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the
people. Next, get two scoundrels to face him and accuse him
of having cursed God and king. Then take him out and stone
him to death.” His fellow citizens—the elders and nobles who
dwelt in his city—did as Jezebel had ordered them in writing,
through the letters she had sent them. They proclaimed a fast
and placed Naboth at the head of the people. Two scoundrels
came in and confronted him with the accusation, “Naboth has
cursed God and king.” And they led him out of the city and
stoned him to death. Then they sent the information to Jezebel
that Naboth had been stoned to death.

When Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death,
she said to Ahab, “Go on, take possession of the vineyard of
Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you, because Naboth
is not alive, but dead.” On hearing that Naboth was dead,
Ahab started off on his way down to the vineyard of Naboth
the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 5:2 –3ab, 4b – 6a, 6b–7

R./ Lord, listen to my groaning.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R./ Lord, listen to my groaning.

In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R./ Lord, listen to my groaning.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him..
R./ Lord, listen to my groaning.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R./ Lord, listen to my groaning.

Gospel Reading Introduction
Jesus tells us not to repay the unjust by revenge. "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" is not Christian. We must rather suffer injustice and let people take advantage of us, at least when the injustice is done against us. But other parts of the scriptures tell us to defend others if they are wronged, like the poor, and to fight injustice through goodness and forgiveness. That is how we must break the spiral of evil.

Gospel Reading: Mt 5:38 – 42

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, offer no
resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on
your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone
wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your
cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one
mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of
you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

Commentary

If the ethic of "an eye for an eye" was followed, half of the world's population would be blind. Revenge is never freeing, rather it draws us deeper into the evil we are seeking to challenge.

The Lord challenges us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. While this stance of non-confrontation might not come to us easily it will always bring out the best within us, and will be the most powerful weapon against forces of evil.

"Vengeance is mine," says the Lord. It does not belong to us.

General Intercessions

- That in our world people may learn not to repay violence with more violence, but as much as possible resist evil in a nonviolent way, we pray:

- That reconciliation may be the mark of Christians when they have suffered from personal enmity and hurt, we pray:

- That we may have the courage to stand up for the injustice done to the poor and those exploited, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father
in these signs of bread and wine
we bring before you our willingness
to be just and fair to every person.
But we ask you even for more.
Give us the dispositions of your Son,
that we may forgive wholeheartedly
those who have wronged us,
and repay evil with kindness.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
you have shown your goodness to us
by giving us your own Son.
With him, we want to be on the side
of the poor and the disinherited.
Do not allow us to remain silent
when people are trampled upon,
but give us the courage and the patience
to make this cold world
a place of justice and respect for people
and warm it with the love
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

Break the spiral of evil! Each of us, in her or his own place, has to do away with evil, in oneself, and as much as one can in one's family, occupation and employment and community. May God give you the strength and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.