1ST READING
Men
in authority do things underhandedly to indulge in their inordinate and
immoral passion. These actions sometimes cause the death of an innocent
person. This is true of all sin. Sin is a death-dealing reality as it
destroys our relationship with God. We need to keep our passions in
control lest we fall into serious sin.
1 Kings 21:1-16
1 Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria, 2 Ahab
said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to be my vegetable garden, since
it is close by, next to my house. I will give you a better vineyard in
exchange, or, if you prefer, I will give you its value in money.” 3 Naboth answered him, “The Lord forbid that I should give you my ancestral heritage.” 4 Ahab
went home disturbed and angry at the answer Naboth the Jezreelite had
made to him: “I will not give you my ancestral heritage.” Lying down on
his bed, he turned away from food and would not eat. 5 His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, “Why are you so angry that you will not eat?” 6 He
answered her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to
him, ‘Sell me your vineyard, or, if you prefer, I will give you a
vineyard in exchange.’ But he refused to let me have his vineyard.” 7 His
wife
Jezebel said to him, “A fine ruler over Israel you are indeed! Get up.
Eat and be cheerful. I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite
for you.” 8 So
she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and, having sealed them with his seal,
sent them to the elders and to the nobles who lived in the same city
with Naboth. 9 This is what she wrote in the letters: “Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. 10 Next, get two scoundrels to face him and accuse him of having cursed God and king. Then take him out and stone him to
death.” 11 His
fellow citizens — the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his city — did
as Jezebel had ordered them in writing, through the letters she had
sent them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and placed Naboth at the head of the people. 13 Two
scoundrels came in and confronted him with the accusation, “Naboth has
cursed God and king.” And they led him out of the city and stoned him to
death. 14 Then they sent the information to Jezebel that Naboth had been
stoned to death. 15 When
Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab,
“Go on, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that
he refused to sell you, because Naboth is not alive, but dead.” 16 On
hearing that Naboth was dead, Ahab started off on his way down to the
vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
P S A L M
Psalm 5:2-3, 4-6, 6-7
R: Lord, listen to my groaning.
1 [2] Hearken to my words, O Lord, attend to my sighing. 2 [3] Heed my call for help, my king and my God! (R) 3 [4] At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you. 4 [5] For you, O God, delight not in wickedness; no evil man remains with you; 5 [6] the arrogant may not stand in your sight.
(R) You hate all evildoers. 6 [7] You destroy all who speak falsehood; the bloodthirsty and the deceitful the Lord abhors. (R)
GOSPEL
Jesus
teaches that the Christian way is the way of forgiveness, not payback.
The consequence of revenge in centuries-old conflicts still rear their
ugly heads today, especially between Catholics and Protestants in
Northern Ireland, the Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims in the Balkan
States, and so on. And the list goes on and on.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.
Matthew 5:38-42
38 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 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. 40 If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. 41 Should anyone press you into
service for one mile, go with him for two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”
think: We need to keep our passions in control lest we fall into serious sin.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Kings 7-9
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