I read through these readings and began letting them simmer on May 28, 2020. Because I don’t pay enough attention to the news, not much was coming up (this was three days after the killing of George Floyd). Then, over the weekend, protests over police brutality against people of color were held all over the nation. On May 30 my phone alerted me not to go near the intersection of 72nd & Dodge (in Omaha) as protesters gathered in the Target parking lot there. On May 31 I learned that a black man had been shot and killed during that protest, and that pepper balls and tear gas had been used on protesters as police officers responded to the rocks, eggs, and other objects being thrown at them. On June 1, the conversation on our parish staff group text revolved around whether those who lived in the downtown area had a safe place to stay that night.

Today is June 2. Suddenly these readings seem very relevant. I’m ashamed that it took all that for me to see it.

Today’s first reading follows Ahab and Jezebel, just after they have killed Naboth and taken his vineyard. They killed him indirectly, with a false accusation of blasphemy and treason, inciting his own people to stone him. They did this because when they asked Naboth to give them his vineyard, he said no. The land was important to his heritage. That’s it. Ahab and Jezebel felt entitled to something that rightfully belonged to Naboth, but they couldn’t have what they wanted, so they killed Naboth and took it. Today Elijah calls them out on it, and Ahab identifies Elijah as his enemy. Elijah prophesies retribution on Ahab and Jezebel for their actions.

Ahab listens, and repents.

Would that we could hear the prophets of our own time with open hearts, especially when it is most difficult to listen to their words, without naming them our enemies. Would that even when we catch ourselves thinking of them as enemies, we could follow Jesus’ command to love them. Would that all of us who benefit from any kind of privilege could truly mean the words of Psalm 51, even if we did not build the system that benefits us, to atone for the suffering of those without the same privileges: “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. … For I have acknowledged my offense … Free me from my blood guilt, O God, my saving God; then shall my tongue revel in your justice.”

Jesus’ last words in the Gospel passage have always been difficult for me – the perfection of God is unattainable for us humans, right? But when paired with the Gospel acclamation verse, “Love one another as I have loved you,” the instruction to “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” is suddenly much more concrete. Don’t inflict violence on each other; instead, act for each other’s best interests, even to the point of giving your lives to save each other. It’s still a very tall order. But “love each other” is much easier than “be perfect.” In choosing to love one another, may we revel in God’s justice.

Psalm 51 by Ricky Manalo, CSP