PRAYER PAUSE
Monday 18 June 2018
NO RESISTANCE
Enter
into the stillness of God within.
Reading: “You have learnt how it was said: eye for eye,
tooth for tooth. But I say this to you:
offer the wicked no resistance” (Matthew 5:38-42)
Reflection. Jesus spoke out constantly
against the wicked. He was never afraid to
speak his mind in the face of evil and could even use a bit of violence against
the traders in the temple. But perhaps the teaching here is that ultimately we
leave judgement to God. Much of our violent resistance only makes things worse. The reign of God calls for non-violent resistance
and calls for the more demanding courage that is not backed up by physical strength. It allows God room to work in the situation
even if it takes time. Our other reading for today is about the violant grab of
Naboth’s vineyartd (1Kings 21). It brought no joy to Ahab or Jezebel whose
wickedness brought ruin to Naboth. Naboth,
like Jesus in his Passion, appeared helpless before this evil. Yet the one
thing Jesus was not, in the Paschal Mystery, was helpless. “God’s weakness is
stronger than human strength” (1 Cor 1:25)
Prayer. Lord, give us the wisdom
and the courage to resist evil in a way that creates a new world. Amen
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