Monday of the
Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(I Kings 21:1-16; Matthew 5:38-42)
In Matthew’s gospel the chief priests and the whole
Sanhedrin try to call false witnesses against Jesus. Such a treacherous ploy did not originate
with them. Nor did it start with Jezebel
in today’s first reading. In fact, it is
no surprise that it is still being done.
In places like Pakistan Christians are sometimes prosecuted for
blasphemy on the basis of probably false testimony. But it happens in European societies as
well. Cardinal George Pell was accused
of sexual abuse of children on the basis of a witness that appears to have testified
falsely.
In today’s gospel Jesus seems to say that such evil
should not be resisted. Can a moral
person accept this teaching? What is
going on here? One bishop comments that
it is “a very difficult teaching” that must be weighed against biblical
injunctions to care for the innocent. He
suggests that the just person ask, “What does the evil-doer really need?”
So what are we to do?
Do we follow Jesus’ literal command to endure evil? Or do we try to suppress it with force if
necessary? Perhaps we must defend others
who are threatened by evil, but we should not try to defend ourselves? We might ask the help of others to assure our
rights. Obviously we need to pray for
enlightenment and strength when confronted by evil.
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