(1 Kgs 21:1b-16; Mt 5:38-42): Let us respond in love and justice that will stand as an eternal bedrock.
Today, we open another weekdays of a new week, entrusting them to the Lord. If the Holy Sunday was a punctuation mark—a spiritual rest and a breathing space in the Lord—now is the time to hasten our steps back to our respective places in life, weaving our precious daily routines. Or perhaps, this is a sacred time when we gather together, recollect our minds, and offer our prayers of entrustment to the Lord, engraving our loved ones deep within our souls.
When we reflect on the meaning of these new days, a simple wish often arises: that the leisure of those who sought to return to a pure life, sweating in the midst of nature, might penetrate the busy and weary lives of modern people. How wonderful would it be if we could step away from the vortex of sharp competition and quietly examine the essence and direction of the life we ought to pursue?
Today, the Word of God invites us to pause our heavy and hurried steps for a moment, prompting us to reflect on what purpose we are truly moving toward and how we are bearing the fruits of our lives.
First, in the First Book of Kings (chapter 21, verse 7), when Ahab seeks to seize the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite through coercive force and power, Jezebel says to him: “A fine king of Israel you are! Get up and eat, and be of good cheer.” This passage vividly reveals how much malice is contained within human rationalization and convenience—born of power and selfishness—when the undeniable truth that God is the ultimate Master is cast far away.
In the end, the outcomes in this world do not depend on what kind of power or position one holds, but on the intention with which that power and authority are revealed and utilized. Whether it is the language we use in our relationships, or any spiritual or material tool, it can either leave wounds and damage, or shine hope and light, depending on the will and heart of the person who wields it.
Through today’s Gospel, the Lord speaks clearly to us about the attitude we, who follow and respond to Him, must adopt in pursuing God's will: “Offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. ... hand over your cloak as well. ... 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.”
To a worldly mindset and logic, this may seem like an incredibly foolish and weak way to respond. However, the way the Lord speaks, and His acceptance of everything even unto death on the Cross, is never a call to helplessly surrender before human contradictions, conflicts, and sins.
Rather, it is a word that awakens us so that anger does not consume our hearts and cause us to abandon
love. It is a wisdom that prevents us from losing the ultimate way to establish true justice on this earth, which cannot be achieved through a vicious cycle of tit-for-tat retaliation. It is an appeal that holds onto us, ensuring that we do not lose the mature dignity and everlasting values we must pursue to the end, tempted by the fleeting allure of worldly power. For this world is not ruled by the supremacy of power that divides us, but by the living truth of God, which must be illuminated by those who live with sincerity and authenticity.
Helen Nearing and her husband, Scott Nearing—who struck a fresh chord of warning through their simple and quiet steps to those losing their souls amidst the sharp relationships and busyness of this world—conveyed many profound messages through their gentle way of life. In her book, Loving and Leaving the Good Life, Helen wrote a passage that resonates deeply:
“Success brings envy; fame brings memory; but righteousness is the bedrock of eternal truth. Love flows out and does not return to itself. It continues its quest, whether failing or succeeding.”
The ultimate conclusion of life is not a superficial human greatness that leaves temporary envy or shocking memories. Justice rooted in love—which becomes the bedrock of eternal truth, echoes deeply within human souls, and constantly invites people to seek deeper meaning—must color this world. We must build the foundation for a beautiful world that conforms to God’s holy will.
Today, in our simple daily lives, we are invited by the Lord’s merciful love to live in this very way. I pray with all my heart that this upright love may touch and transform one another, becoming a blessed grace that brings us all one step closer to God. Amen.