MONDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mt 5:38-42) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
FIRST READING - 6:1-10
A reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians
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.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 5:38-42
From the Gospel according to Matthew
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."
MONDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mt 5:38-42)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
In today's Word of God, God revealed to everyone the law of ancient people, which taught, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” This was considered a law of justice and retribution at that time and in the social context. People regarded it as appropriate and perfect.
But when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth and became human, He fulfilled the old Law. He gave humanity a new, better, and more perfect Law: the law of love, charity, forgiveness, humility, self-denial, and self-sacrifice for others. It is a law of selfless giving—choosing to love and endure suffering rather than seeking justice by worldly standards.
Jesus Christ came into the world to become a human to bring life and salvation to all people. He calls everyone to live by this new Law—the Law of love and charity—and He promises salvation to those who practice this new law. Jesus Christ is not only the giver of the Law; He also fully practiced it through His own sacrifice, humility, self-abasement, and self-emptying. Though He was the Son of God, He accepted all suffering and died a shameful death on the Cross to save humanity.
He calls us to live according to this Law of love, which He Himself perfectly practiced and fulfilled.
Today, God continually calls each of us to live by and uphold the Law of love and charity in all its fullness. This Law must be placed above all others. Only then can we attain eternal happiness in the house of God the Father in Heaven.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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