Daily Catholic Lectio
Mon, 17 June 2024
Eleventh week in Ordinary Time – Monday
1 Kings 21:1-16. Matthew 5:38-42
Winning over evil
Violence is one of the basic human instincts. Different systems of government help humans curb their instincts and keep them under control. The Torah suggested a way, i.e., ‘eye for eye’ and ‘tooth for tooth.’ This not only controlled that someone does not retaliate more but also ensured justice for the oppressed.
Humanly speaking, we respond to violence at two levels: (a) to repay with violence; (b) to be passive recipients of violence. Jesus proposes a third way, i.e., ‘do not resist the one who is evil, but win over the evil.’
Other cheek for one cheek, tunic for cloak, second stone for the first stone – through this, the oppressor will feel ashamed and stop his oppression. He will undergo a conversion. Thus, the evil is overcome.
Hence, our aim is not to resist the evil doer, but to win over evil.
In the first reading, the vineyard of Naboth is being snatched away from him by Jezebel and Ahab. The Lord fights for Naboth and takes vengeance on Jezebel.
In a way, the Lord God handles violence as ‘eye for eye,’ ‘tooth for tooth,’ and ‘life for life.’
Jesus, during his passion, at the house of the High Priest, when he was slapped, asks, ‘Why did you slap me?’
At times, we must be like God in handling violence and oppression.
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‘Jesus instructs us not to resist the evil doer; but our hope is that evil will be won over’ (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 126).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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