The gospel for Monday of the eleventh week in ordinary time is taken from Matthew 5, 38, 42. Jesus said to his disciples, you have heard that was said, an eye for an eye, 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. Jesus is making a statement that must have seemed strange to his disciples as it does to many of us today. Offer no resistance to one who is evil. Why would that be what he wants? It’s so subtle that evil is the kind of thing that when someone does something to you, they hate you. You turn around and hate them and do something bad to them.

It is the most seductive thing that evil does. Talks us into being just like it. But this is calling for human beings to be so different than that. To not return evil for evil. Not to base everything on the law, but to work with service, generous service. That’s the goal.

That’s what the kingdom is about. Please take a few moments to reflect on these words as you listen to the music. Now we’ll close with a prayer. The closing prayer. Father, awaken our eyes to what you long for us to see. It’s your presence within us that gives us the courage and the ability to live the laws of your kingdom, the laws of mercy.

And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.