17 June 2019
Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
From the very beginnings of the Church, testimonies exist of Christians joyfully accepting death because of their faith in Jesus. In the face of violence, persecution and even death, their eyes are not downcast or filled with fear. They look towards God and neighbor filled with the joy of knowing Christ.
In today’s gospel, Jesus tells his disciples to offer no resistance and to give foolishly and generously. In our society today, we might call this being used or abused. But a Christian who offers peace and generosity when faced with aggression or demand is not a passive doormat. She gives peacefully and generously because in her heart she has all that she could ever want, Christ Jesus. And she does so not with her eyes downcast, but with her eyes looking intently at her neighbor, in which she sees and reflects Christ himself.