Monday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time
1 Kgs 21:1-16
Mt 5:38-42
“But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well…”
When I first came across the passage from today’s first reading, I was a university undergrad. I didn’t think so then, but looking back, I believe I had still been rather impressionable at that age. I was very outraged by what Jezebel did (still am); but further down that passage, it was revealed that Elijah soundly condemned both Ahab and Jezebel, and they both came to bitter ends. Jezebel herself was eaten by dogs. Justice was served. However, today’s gospel tells us to turn the other cheek, and offer no resistance to evil. Admittedly, I was stumped at first, and I felt like I would not be able to write a reflection, because what was there to reflect on? If we turn the other cheek, the bullies (and evil) will always get their way. Perhaps it would be eye-opening to look a bit closer at this initial reaction I had — why do we feel so reluctant to turn the other cheek?
Matthew’s chapter 5 begins with the Sermon on the Mount. It basically exhorts us to be perfect as God the Father is perfect. It tells us to practice the virtues, to reconcile with those we have wronged, and importantly, to forgive. More importantly, it also mentions divine judgment. While the Old Testament contained a lot of evil deeds, it also contained a lot of retribution. When Jesus came to tell us to turn the other cheek, he was not suggesting that the evil ones will get away, but that they will face judgment for their wrongdoing. It is not our place to mete out the judgment or punishment, but it is our duty to forgive and to love. But is this good enough?
We all more or less have an innate sense of right and wrong, or what is just and fair. It is clear from the way my children see the things that happen to them that, from a tender age, we are already able to compare behaviours and get riled up when the same type of behaviour is not punished the same way, or sometimes not punished at all when done by a different person. We are also able to understand that people do not (or should not) have the right to do bad things in retaliation, even when they are angry.
In April this year, our country was shocked by a horrific road traffic accident that saw 2 lives lost and several people injured because a driver ran a red light at top speed. It appears that this driver had been in an ill-tempered “race” with another car and had side-swiped that car before speeding off and crashing into several vehicles. Emotions ran high and not only were there calls for more severe punishment for reckless driving, many on online forums were calling for that driver’s head. We just cannot accept that someone who kills 2 people via dangerous driving could potentially get away with a mere couple of years in prison. Juxtapose that with someone trafficking a little bit too much weed and getting the death sentence, it is not hard to see why people are furious. If one is sent to the gallows, the other should be too, right?
How does one see such things that happen in the world and still hold on to the words contained in the gospel? What does one do and feel, while we await a divine punishment for the wrongdoer? While we wait for the courts to hand down what is seen by the public as an inadequate sentence? These are the tough questions that many of us struggle with. And we struggle because our reason tells us that something does not add up.
This is where Faith comes in. Reason takes us only so far, and we eventually either stumble, or fail to progress. How does one witness injustice and suffering in the world and still be able to hold to the words of the gospel telling us to turn the other cheek? Faith is how we do this. After having journeyed with Reason, Faith can take us further. Faith gives us Hope for ourselves and for others. More importantly, Faith tells us to trust in God’s providence. There are way too many things beyond our control, and so we have to trust that God is in control. When things do not go the way we think they should, when things go awry, remember that God can write straight with crooked lines.
Perhaps my knee jerk reaction was due to a lack of faith while reading the passage. I had been planning a 10-day family vacation to Tokyo and trying to figure out itineraries that would cover everyone’s interests, as well as possible day trips, all the while keeping tabs on the weather forecasts and earthquake forecasts (which meant Anxiety). I had been on full-on rational, practical, pragmatic mode and my mind had no space for anything beyond that. This knee jerk reaction of mine was a timely reminder that I needed to make room for Faith amidst all the pressing matters, especially because of the pressing matters, and Faith is needed when you travel with children! Faith works with God’s grace. We need to pray for the gift of Faith so that we may better see what God has planned for us. Faith is so overlooked but so needed.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Felicia Zou)
Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray for the gift of faith, that we may see You in all that we encounter. We pray for the gift of faith, that we will recognise the graces You shower on us.
Thanksgiving: Dear Lord, we thank You for Your faithfulness to us.
OXYGEN 
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