Monday, June 18, 2018
TODAY'S REFLECTION - MONDAY-11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Sts.Mark and Marcellian, Martyrs
1 Kings 21: 1-16/ Psalm 5:2-3,5-7/ Matthew 5:38-42
NO RETALIATION
Beloved, King Ahab allowed himself to be negatively influenced by his wife, Jezebel. In our today's first reading, Naboth remained firm not to give out his vineyard, which was the inheritance of his fathers. This made Ahab sad. Jezebel facilitated the murder of Naboth to enable Ahab to take over Naboth's vineyard. Let us soberly reflect on the number of innocent blood that we have been shed in order to take over one property or the other! Think about the number of land disputes! The number of lives lost because of land disputes! The double selling of land! We should be aware that none of us came out from his or her mother's womb with a piece of land. We came to meet a free gift from God. King Ahab later showed remorse and repented. God relented the punishment that He wanted to give to Ahab. Do I have any sense of remorse/regret?
Friends, Jesus advises us not to retaliate. For vengeance belongs to God alone. We are encouraged to give to anyone who wants to borrow from us. We should learn to cover people with an umbrella or fan cool breeze for the other and we shall also benefit. But if we hold fire or want someone to feel the heat, we shall also feel the heat. Imagine trying to use fire locally to harvest honey. Before you conquer the bees with fire, also be prepared to experience the heat.
Let us pray for the grace not to negatively influence one another, to the point of shedding blood. We should be careful the way we use/sell the land under our care. May we cultivate the habit of forgiveness among ourselves. BE BLESSED.
Fr. Gaa (0206854323/0240308878)