Monday of the
Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
(I Kings 17:1-6; Matthew 5:1-12)
Protesters are yelling in the street. The mayor has imposed a curfew to maintain
order. Everyone feels disgusted with the
police brutality of two weeks ago. But
most people do not want to have the injustice compounded by riots, burning, and
looting. How would Jesus have responded
to such a situation? Today’s gospel
offers some clues.
The passage relates the beatitudes which describe the saintly
life. They promote patience and
forbearance in face of persecution. However, they do not criticize the defense
of human rights. Rather they indicate
the need for Christians to suffer for what they believe to be just. They abhor violence and exhort peaceful ways
to resolve problems of persecution.
We cannot expect that everyone will follow Jesus’ program
for saintliness. Nevertheless, we have to follow him as are model and surest
guide. He will not fail us but make us
sources of blessing in our communities.
We will also find our society improving, perhaps incrementally but
surely. There may be steps backward at
times, but generally we will feel the improvement.
.
