No Resistance

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/061316.cfm) reminds me that sometimes, God just wants us to be still and trust in Him. 

I saw a documentary saying that anger is caused when the brain feels it is being put to pressure, in danger, or in an unfair situation. Come to think of it, a lot of times it is true. we feel angry snd can be violent when we are put in danger, or when other people are treating us unfairly. However, God wants us to be better than most people. God does not want us to act this way. He wants us to surrender to Him. 

In the first reading, we see Naboth being framed. He was abused. He did not do anything bad, he just did not give in to what the king wants. And the queen made plans to have him stoned to death. He did not defend himself of the lies said about him. He just submitted himself snd trusted in God. Similar to how Jesus acted when charges were put against Him. 

God wants us to be still and trust in Him, especially when the situation is unfair and prompts us to act and do something ourselves. 

There are times the world may treat us bad. People in power might abuse us. We might be urged to fight and result to violence. An eye for an eye, like in the gospel. But Jesus reminds us to offer no resistance to evil. We just need to trust in God. He will fight for us. He can do anything. But he will do what he wants. If he wills that we experience these things, then we just need to trust his wisdom snd continue to submit and surrender to his will.

May we always trust God, surrender to Him, and offer no resistance as he wants us to. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for another week. Lord, sorry for the times I focus on myself. Sorry for resorting to violence as I defend myself. Help me always submit to you. Help me focus on you. Help me surrender to you. May I live the way you want me to, not the way I want to. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

June 13, 2016
Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 365

Reading 1 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. (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 Ps 119:105

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 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.”