Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Break The Spiral Of Evil
Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: II
Introduction
Year II: It is the continuous temptation of people to get what we want, if necessary by unjust means and by exploiting others, like Ahab expropriating the vineyard of Naboth.
Gospel: Jesus tells us not to repay the unjust with 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.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
The injustice found in the world upsets us.
Forgive us the wrongs we have committed
and do not allow us to add
to the evil in the world
by exploiting our brothers and sisters
and using them for our own purposes.
Rather, teach and help us
to stand up for integrity and truth,
not to take revenge
But out of the goodness of our hearts.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
First Reading
Naboth’s Vineyard
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 told Ahab: “The Lord 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 his father’s inheritance. 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, but he answered: I will not give you, my vineyard.”
His wife Jezebel said: “Are you not the 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, 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 Naboth’s vineyard and took possession of it.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (2b) Lord, listen to my groaning.
Hearken to my words, O LORD,
attend to my sighing.
Heed my call for help,
my king and my God!
R. Lord, listen to my groaning.
At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.
For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;
no evil man remains with you;
the arrogant may not stand in your sight.
R. Lord, listen to my groaning.
You hate all evildoers.
You destroy all who speak falsehood.
The bloodthirsty and the deceitful
the LORD abhors.
R. Lord, listen to my groaning.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Regarding Revenge
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.
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.
Prayers of the Faithful
– 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 his or her own place, has to do away with evil in oneself, and as much as one can in one’s family, occupation, employment and community. May God give you the strength and bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Matthew 5:38-42
Breaking the chain of evil with the law of love
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 5:38–42), Jesus gives us a revolutionary teaching—one that turns the logic of the world upside down: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you…” And what follows is not passivity or weakness, but the strength of mercy, the courage of love.
Jesus is not asking us to simply accept injustice. He is calling us to break the chain of evil. Not by returning harm with harm, but by responding with good. This is not easy. It requires strength, humility, and above all, conversion. Conversion of the heart. A change in how we see others, even our enemies.
Yes, even we — all of us — have enemies. And at times, we ourselves become the enemies of others. The Book of Leviticus reminds us: “You shall not hate your brother in your heart… you shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Lev 19:17–18) This is the holiness to which God calls us — a holiness rooted not in revenge or grudges, but in compassion.
Jesus does not abolish justice. No! He elevates it. He teaches us to distinguish clearly between justice and revenge. Revenge flows from hatred and leads only to more suffering. But Christian justice is fulfilled in mercy — in turning the other cheek, in going the extra mile, in choosing peace over retaliation.
This teaching is not a weakness. It is a strength. It is the path of true dignity. Let us ask the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, to help us walk this path — to practice patience, forgiveness, and dialogue. May she help us be artisans of fraternity, breaking cycles of violence with the fullness of love.
Amen.