Both of today’s readings deal with evil. The first reading shows the deadly consequences of evil intentions and actions. The gospel, on the other hand, challenges us not to return evil for evil. Jesus’ response to evil can be as difficult to comprehend today as it was back then.

It is so easy to solely blame Jezebel for the murder of Naboth. But she did not act alone. After the elders and the nobles received the letters Jezebel had written in King Ahab’s name, they blindly carried them out.  She made it clear exactly what they were to do: “…get two scoundrels to face and accuse him….Then take him out and stone him to death.” They did not question these orders; they did not give Naboth a chance to confront his accusers. The elders and the nobles  were as complicit in this evil plot to murder Naboth as was King Ahab. The king did not ask why Naboth’s vineyard was suddenly available, he just went there “to take possession of it.”

'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.'  This quote attributed to Edmund Burke, warns us that evil does not exist in a vacuum. It needs willing assistants to carry it out. Evil exists because we let it.

Fortunately, this reading is followed up by Jesus’ teaching on evil.  It reminds us that God’s time is not our time nor are God’s ways are our human ways.  It is incredibly difficult for us humans to ‘turn your other cheek’ or ‘walk another mile’.

For most of our history, wars are fought over lands another country wants to take from its current inhabitants.  When you think of all the wars still going on today that are creating millions of refugees and creating such unnecessary misery, it can be overwhelming and depressing.  However, today Jesus is showing us another way.  He is modeling a new way to  deal with evil.

St. Paul phrases it this way in his letter to the Romans: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  (Rom 12:21)

Jesus encourages us to break the cycle of violence and/or meanness by not returning it quid pro quo.  As Gandhi said:  “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.”

But how do we develop the internal strength to take the high road?...  to not cooperate with evil?  Pope Francis writes:  “The power of Jesus is love.”  To overcome evil with good , we have to make time each day to connect with God’s grace and love so that we too can stand up to evil…to ‘turn our other cheek’. 

Let us close by praying:  “Jesus, you who love me, teach me to love like you. Jesus, you who forgive me, teach me to forgive like you.  Send your spirit, the spirit of Love, upon me.”  Pope Francis