MONDAY OF WEEK 11 IN ORDINARY TIME - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Your word is a lamp for my steps
and a light for my path. PS 118:105

1 KINGS 21:1-16

My Soul’s Beloved, 

Covetousness is abhorrent to You, O Lord. You give to each what is needful and this is why we must be content with what we have received and not be envious of the gifts given to another. It is in our sinful nature to look at what others possess and to wish that we too were blessed similarly this could be anything spiritual or material. If we desire something Lord, we must bring those desires to You in prayer and ask for it for You deny us nothing if what we ask for is good. You delight in answering us and if we do not receive what we ask for then we must rest content in the knowledge that You will grant it in time or You desire to give us something better. 

Jealousy and envy can lead us to sin grievously. We ought never to rob those less fortunate than ourselves or those who are weaker than we are no matter what it is that we seek to take. It could be by deliberately tempting them knowing that their weakness and that they will fall prey to it and perhaps be lost forever. It is no small thing in Your sight, Beloved if we take advantage of those who are powerless against us to withstand and resist. Jezebel was a wicked woman who planned and plotted against an innocent man so her husband who was king could have what he coveted from a good man and who became a victim of the king’s greed. 

Have mercy on us O Lord and grant us the grace to be content with what we have given and may we be more concerned in saving our souls rather than spending our time on things that will prove to be stumbling blocks in our path to the Kingdom of God.

PSALM 5:2-3,5-7

To my words give ear, O Lord,
give heed to my groaning.
Attend to the sound of my cries,
my King and my God. 

You are no God who loves evil;
no sinner is your guest.
The boastful shall not stand their ground
before your face. 

You hate all who do evil;
you destroy all who lie.
The deceitful and bloodthirsty man
the Lord detests. 

Give heed to my groaning, O Lord. 

MATTHEW 5:38-42

My Soul’s Beloved, 

We live in a world that preaches that might is right. The powerful trample on the powerless. The rich become richer by stealing and seizing what belongs to the poor who are voiceless. The law often turns a blind eye to the plight of the helpless and the poor, the minority and the migrant, and the faithful Christian disciple against a godless world. Should they seek redress they are crushed and even the little they had is taken. 

What do we do in a world where there is no justice for those who are prevailed upon, often by force, or cunning, to submit because those in authority will not lift a finger to help them? If the only option before us is to submit humbly and trust You completely to battle on our behalf, we can offer up the injustices against us as reparation for our sins. You have the power to bring about a greater good when we place all our hope in You. To render evil for evil, or to act violently when we are met with violence gains us little and we suffer even greater loss. 

It is not easy Lord, to humbly submit to those with power over us, our pride makes us resist but You teach us a better way. We can experience inner peace by doing what we are forced to do serenely and our witness to the power of love can and will change the heart of the oppressor.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.’