The Victory of God's Goodness over Evil

Reflection on Today's Readings, 11th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, Tuesday 16th June, 2020
Texts: 1Kgs. 21:17-29; Ps. 51:3-6,11,16; Mtt. 5:43-48
Yesterday, we affirmed that Vengeance did not belong to man. Vengeance belongs to God. Today's first reading shows us how God reprimanded king Ahab and promised to take vengeance on him for the evil he did to Naboth. Every wrong done to us does not escape God's notice and he will always fight for us. However, no matter how great the evil is, it cannot overcome the mercy of God.
Today's first Reading shows that as much as God will want to take Vengeance on king Ahab, he does not allow the evil to stand as a barrier to his mercy. When king Ahab approached God with humble contrite heart, God said to Elijah thus: "Have you seen how he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the evil upon his house. This reminds us that if we approach God with humble contrite heart at confessional, his mercy shall shine upon us and the guilty of our sins be taken away. Hence, the penny Catechism says, "perfect contribution has this value; that by it our sins are forgiven immediately, even before we confess them; but nevertheless, if they are serious, we are strictly bound to confess them afterwards" (no 294). Indeed, a humble contrite heart God does not reject (Ps. 51:17). However, we need to go for confession, for besides forgiving sins, confession also gives grace to overcome temptations and sin (no 282).
The gospel continues with the story of the victory of God's goodness over evil. God's goodness shines upon us all, both the good and the evil, the just and the unjust. God's goodness breaks through evil and injustice in the world. Evil has an end but God's goodness has no end. No matter how evil we are, we still enjoy the goodness of God: his sun, his rain, his life, his air, etc.
Jesus Christ, in the gospel, reminds us that being God's children, we are to be like him. We are to love both friends and enemies. He challenges us thus: "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect".
However, there is still a puzzle left unsolved in the first reading: why did God decide to visit the sin of Ahab on his son? The way of God is a mystery and that is why he is God; his way is not our way, his thought is not our thought (Is. 55:8). Since it was the result of God's merciful act, we should see it in a good light. God does no evil but good. We can solve the puzzle by saying that the punishment will only come upon his house in the days of his son who follows his sinful way.

God our heavenly Father, help us to love both friends and enemies that we might be perfect as you are perfect. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke