Monday of the 11th
Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint
Anthony of Padua
June 13, 2016 6:30am
Readings: I
Kings 21:1-16
Matthew
5:38-42
I cannot help but think about
today’s gospel in relation to the mass shooting yesterday in Orlando.
How are we to take Jesus’ words
when we have to deal with terrorists or terrorist organizations?
Is Jesus being unrealistic?
Or do his words have something to
say to us today?
I have just a few brief ideas
here at 6:30am.
First, I do not believe that
Jesus is saying that we should allow ourselves or others to be abused or
injured or killed.
We should flee these situations
if at all possible.
And we should take appropriate
action to prevent these violent actions, and that would include action against
those who do this.
Second, I believe that we need to
make sure that our response to violence does not cross the line into sheer
vengeance – an eye for an eye or even more.
So we need to be careful not to
stereotype – and that is a danger in our world and country today.
And we need to make sure that our
response is protective but not excessive.
And third, when Jesus says that
if our enemy demands that we walk one mile, walk two miles with him, I believe
he means that we try to build bridges with love.
This is counter-intuitive in
today’s world, but I think he is right.
So let’s do what we can to understand
and build relationships and even assist those in need in predominantly Muslim
countries.
In the long run, that will offer
the best and maybe the only possibility of human respect and peace.
