How To Fight Evil

Have you ever been in a fight with someone that wouldn’t fight back? It takes away all the fun doesn’t it? That is the point of today’s gospel. It’s the eye for an eye lesson where Jesus calls us again to choose a better way to deal with “evil” people, people who push our buttons, pot stirrers, drama makers, and also how to be a kind and generous giver. The higher standard and the one that Jesus is so very good at is to deescalate situations that can lead to more anger, or violence, or revenge, or hate, or resentment, or scandal, or bitterness, or greater sin. When we refuse to engage with the one poking at us, it takes their power away and it deflates the puffed up arrogance that is required to start any sort of fight. Raise your hand if you are good at this. I am 100% not good at this and I used to almost always engage. I need to work on this for sure! The other standard is to always give more, give better, and to never turn your back on someone in need. 

Do not fight evil with evil. Turn the other cheek. Give them your cloak as well. Go with them for two miles. Do not turn your back on someone. Jesus wants us to fight evil with peace, kindness, service, and generosity. Jesus wants us to fight evil with peace, kindness, service, and generosity. This gospel doesn’t really need too many words or anecdotes to convey its message. Jesus wants us to fight evil with peace, kindness, service, and generosity. Raise your hand if you think our country/world would benefit from these four goods right now.  The most effective way to dispel darkness is to be light. The most immediate way to deescalate anger and hostility is with stillness and warmth. The kindest way to serve is to go the extra mile. The best kind of friend is the one that shares their life generously without expecting anything in return. Jesus wants us to fight evil with peace, kindness, service, and generosity.

I have a friend that has this super annoying habit of whispering whenever we are in a heated debate or argument. Do you know how hard it is to fight with someone that is whispering back at you? Jesus would say, “exactly.” I pray that today we whisper kindness into every situation we find ourselves in, we give more than we’ve been asked for, we resist those that incite drama, and we remember to deescalate tension so that we can grow in the virtues of peace, kindness, service, and generosity. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 2 COR 6:1-10

Brothers and sisters:
As your fellow workers, we appeal to you
not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
We cause no one to stumble in anything,
in order that no fault may be found with our ministry;
on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves
as ministers of God, through much endurance,
in afflictions, hardships, constraints,
beatings, imprisonments, riots,
labors, vigils, fasts;
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness,
in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech,
in the power of God;
with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left;
through glory and dishonor, insult and praise.
We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful;
as unrecognized and yet acknowledged;
as dying and behold we live;
as chastised and yet not put to death;
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing;
as poor yet enriching many;
as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2B, 3AB, 3CD-4

R.(2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him, 
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel. 
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.

Alleluia PS 119:105

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 5:38-42

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, 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.
Give to the one who asks of you,

and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."