06/15/2026
The first reading today is 1 Kings 21:1-16. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard next to Ahab, king of Samaria. Ahab asked Naboth to give him his vineyard for a vegetable garden and he would give Naboth a better vineyard, or give him its value in money. Naboth refused, saying it was his ancestral heritage. Ahab went home, upset, and went to his bed, refusing to eat. His wife, Jezebel, asked him why he was angry and he told her what had happened with Naboth. Jezebel mocked him and told him to get up and eat and she would get the vineyard for him. She wrote letters to the elders in Ahab's name, telling them to proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. Then they were to get two scoundrels to accuse him of cursing God and king and then stone him to death. They did as Jezebel had ordered and Naboth was stoned to death. They sent word to Jezebel when this happened. Then she told Ahab that Naboth was dead and he should claim his vineyard. Ahab then started on his way to claim the vineyard. We might guess that there will be repercussions for this lie of Jezebel but we won't know this until later. But it does show that there are evil people out there who would plot our ruin. Perhaps the message is to worry more about God’s judgment than what people might say to us or how they might lie about us or how they might try to plot our ruin. Put more value in God’s judgment than in any person's judgment.
The gospel is Matthew 5:38-42. Jesus said to his disciples that they had heard "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." But Jesus told them to offer no resistance to one who is evil. If he strikes your right cheek, offer him the left. If they want to go to court over your tunic, give him your cloak as well. Should they be pressed into service for one mile, go two instead. He told them to give to the one who asks of them and do not turn their back on someone who wants to borrow. This is really radical thinking for that time, and perhaps even for today's world. So many times people think more about how they might get "even" with someone who has hurt them, rather than forgiving them. This may be just part of the message of Jesus to love others, to be charitable and to forgive others as we are forgiven by God. Listen to and follow his message.
God bless and stay safe and stay healthy. Pray for peace in Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon, Iran and Ukraine and throughout the world. Pray for the victims of violence and their families. Pray for the sick and the poor souls in Purgatory. Pray for an increase in vocations and for the Church in WNY and for our parish family. Have a blessed day.
