When I read about something in the news that makes me angry, I have an overwhelming feeling to respond to the evil. For about a microsecond, though, I sometimes think of repaying evil with evil. And that’s exactly what Jesus advocates against in today’s Gospel.
When Jesus asks how Satan can possibly drive out Satan, he makes the point that divided kingdoms cannot stand. Evil cannot be justified or repaid with evil. “An eye for an eye” will make the whole world blind to beauty, goodness, and truth.
On this day of Prayer for Legal Protection of the Unborn, let us pray to be a people of righteousness. Let us repay evil with goodness and pray that those consumed by evil will come to know the Lord through our example.
Cuando leo algo en las noticias que me enoja, tengo un sentimiento abrumador de responder al mal. Sin embargo, durante aproximadamente un microsegundo, a veces pienso en devolver mal con mal. Y eso va exactamente en contra de lo que Jesús aboga en el Evangelio de hoy.
Cuando Jesús pregunta cómo es posible que Satanás expulse a Satanás, señala que los reinos divididos no pueden mantenerse. El mal no puede justificarse ni pagarse con otro mal. “Ojo por ojo” hará que el mundo entero se ciegue ante la belleza, la bondad y la verdad.
En este día de Oración por la Protección Legal de los No Nacidos, oremos para ser un pueblo de rectitud. Devolvamos el mal con el bien y oremos para que aquellos consumidos por el mal lleguen a conocer al Señor a través de nuestro buen ejemplo.
Mary Thissen is a St. Louis native living in East Central Illinois with her husband and children. She is blessed with twin boys Earthside and four children now living in Heaven. When she is not working as a healthcare data analyst or caring for her boys, she enjoys studying and writing about the Catholic faith and ministering to women who are suffering through miscarriage or infertility. You can connect with Mary on Instagram @waitingonmiracles.
Feature Image Credit: Christin Noelle, unsplash.com/photos/PodK1s6yMSE
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