Earthly and Heavenly Values


MONDAY, ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDERINARY TIME

1 Kings 21:1-16; Ps 5:2-3,5-7; Mt 5:38-42

The Christian Value System

Just as the Christian virtues have a different origin or principle from the natural virtues, the Christian system of values differs from the natural or the world’s value system. A natural person instinctively and naturally seeks to preserve his life and whatever makes it flourish. On the other hand, our vocation to follow Jesus Christ to death and the spiritual life that the Holy Spirit gives us at the moment of our profession of faith in Christ gives us a different orientation in life. As we mentioned in yesterday’s reflection, the new life we have received from Jesus Christ is oriented towards death to self and being present to God to fulfil His holy will. This is why the life of a Christian can never be comprehended by a worldly-minded person. What a man of the world wants is opposed to what a Christian wants. As Christians, we live no longer to satisfy our desires, but to accomplish the will of Jesus Christ, who purchased us with his precious blood. As Christians, each of us ought to be an expression of God’s loving will for our own salvation and the salvation of others.

The Christian vocation to total consecration to God through Jesus Christ makes Christianity distinct from Judaism, which is its root. The encounter between King Ahab and Naboth, considered in the light of the admonitions of our Lord in the Gospel, demonstrates the difference in orientations of the two Testaments. Judaism, based on the Old Testament, idolises the written code or Law, but the Son of Man came to reveal the God behind the Law. A deeper understanding of the Law we received from God is meant for the spiritual flourishing of the human person, and not for material gain or well-being. Naboth’s reason for denying King Ahab his vineyard would be considered inconsequential or even materialistic in Christian understanding and spirituality. Even in the Old Testament, the king of Israel had the right to make such demands on his subjects because he stood in place of God for them. By the king’s consecration of his life to God, to rule the people of God in his place, he makes every demand in the light of God’s will for his people. So, the people obey God and fulfil the will of God when they obey the king. But Naboth lacked this deeper understanding of the Law of inheritance and applied it selfishly, even when the king promised to give him a better vineyard. “Give me your vineyard to be my vegetable garden, since it adjoins my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it or, if you prefer, I will give you its worth in money.”

The refusal of Naboth to part with his vineyard at the king’s request gave the occasion for the evil or darkness in the heart of Jezebel to manifest, causing anarchy and pain in the lives of so many people. Our Lord admonishes us to offer no such opportunity to evil. “You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. 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; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him.” The wisdom in the Lord’s admonition lies in our understanding that our values as Christians differ from those of the world; our orientation is different from that of the proud worldlings. We and the world are headed in different directions. What the world desires are limited and transitory, so they fight and kill for them. But what we desire and long for is spiritual, immeasurable, and invaluable; it can never pass away; it is present here and now, but in mystery. If we believe that our ultimate desire is fulfilled in faith now, we should give up what is passing away. “Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.”

Let us pray: O God, strength of those who hope in you, graciously hear our plea, and, since without you mortal frailty can do nothing, grant us always the help of your grace, that we may please you by our resolve and our deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.     

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