11th Week in Ordinary Time
19th June 2023 (Monday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Brethren: Working together with Christ, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favourable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favourable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left, through honour and dishonour, through slander and praise. We are treated as imposters, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 (R. 2a)
R/. The Lord has made known his salvation
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Your word is a lamb for my feet, and a light for my path.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 5:38-42
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the ones who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Highlight: Witness by Contrast!
Indicative: The ways of the world are always contrary to the ways of God. It needs a change of heart to rise above the ways of the world. It needs the courage of the Spirit to be loyal to the ways of God {alertSuccess}
1. The ways of the world are always in contrast to the ways of God. In such a context, Jesus invites us to follow a new set of rules, a reversal of the values.
2. It is no more grudge, revenge, and retaliation but forgiveness and reconciliation. It is no more an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Rather it is offering another cheek as well to the one who strikes on one cheek. It is no more avarice or profit-seeking, but concern for the need of the other.
3. It goes even to the extent of forgoing one's own due and rightful gain. Thus, it is to be generous enough to give away the cloak as well to the one who sues for a coat, or to give readily to the one who begs or borrows.
4. This is exactly what Paul and the other apostles lived: they suffered but they always rejoiced in the Lord. They were persecuted but remained strong and loyal. They were slandered but stood truthful. They were despised as poor but they were so rich spiritually and enriched others.
5. As Paul enumerates in the first reading from his 2nd letter to the Corinthians (6. 1-10), what they faced was a series of afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labours, watching and hunger.
6. But what they showed was great endurance by the Holy Spirit, the power of God, genuine love, knowledge, forbearance, kindness and truthful speech. They fought and conquered the forces of evil, not by revenge and retaliation but with the weapons of righteousness.
7. They put no obstacle in anyone’s way. They never conducted themselves blameworthy in their ministry. But they presented themselves as commendable servants of God. This indeed is a life of witness by contrast.
Practice: The value and meaning of life and all the more the life of a disciple of Christ is not in aggression and retaliation but in forbearance, reconciliation and condescendence{alertSuccess}