Date: June 15, 2020 ()

Bible Text: 1 KGS 21:1-16; MT 5:38-42 |

Series:

The two readings today demonstrate to us two opposing forces at work: the force of love and force of evil. King Ahab and his wife were embodiments of the dark and greedy pursuits. And how awful were the injustices done. Naboth was grabbed of everything: his ancestral heritage and his very own life. It was an evil act to the highest degree that bore unimaginable destruction. Pride, the root of evil, renders man a cold heart. If we allow evil to just continue flourishing, there will be an endless cycle of violence and murder. What a dark world it would be!

We are ambassadors of goodwill and bringers of peace. And the face of love shines forth through every act of kindness. Love does not seek revenge “but 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.”

Love builds; begets beauty; and creates harmony. The only dying that love knows is dying for others. It’s selfless, never selfish.

There’s a story of a boy named Heber Grant. Young Heber J. Grant worked hard in his thin, worn jacket. His family was poor and didn’t have money to buy a new coat. Heber’s mother surprised him when she gave him a new, warm winter coat. She had worked hard to sew it for him. Heber thanked his mother and rushed out the door to play. His coat was so warm he hardly noticed the cold weather!

As Heber raced down the streets, something caught his eye as he ran past an alley. Heber slowly peeked around the corner. He watched as a young boy in a thin, ragged sweater crouched in front of an exhaust grate to try to get warm. Heber knew how cold that boy must be. He knew the boy needed help.

When Heber came home, his mother immediately noticed he was not wearing his coat. “Heber, where is your coat?” she asked. Heber told his mother that he gave the coat to the boy in the alley. He began to cry. He didn’t want his mother to be sad that he gave away the coat. Heber’s mother was not sad. She hugged Heber. She was proud of him.

Let us make Jesus proud of us by our little acts of kindness. May our hearts become truly compassionate as to hear the cry of the pleading of our brothers and sisters in their deep prayer: “Lord, listen to my groaning.”

“Lord, listen to my groaning.”

Dear Jesus,

Divine Physician and Healer of the Sick, I turn to You in this time of illness. Dearest Comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with Your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden. We place our worries in Your hands.

We ask that You restore Your servant to health again. Above all, grant us the grace to acknowledge Your holy will and know that whatever You do, You do for the love of us.

Amen.