Non-resistance to evil

June 13, Monday 11th Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua
Daily Readings: Kings 21:1-16, Gospel: Mathew 5;38-42

We are commanded to resist evildoers by performing acts of kindness.

A Zen story about a monk who went to the river and found a scorpion sinking: he knew the scorpion could not swim. He picked up the scorpion with his hand, but the scorpion turned and stung his hand. The monk drew his hand back in pain, and the scorpion fell back into the river.

This scene was repeated several times until, finally, the monk held the scorpion. Someone standing nearby asked him, "Why do you keep trying to save the scorpion although it stings you every time you try to save it?" The monk replied, "It is the nature of the scorpion to sting, but my nature is to save."

In the gospel, 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 tell you, do not resist the evil one." (Mathew 5: 38).  Then Jesus gives us the teaching on non-resistance to evil.

There is a series of appeals from Jesus to turn evil for good. Jesus teaches us that we can only conquer evil with good. Darkness can be removed only by light.

Today is also the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua, the Miracle Worker. He was a saint who filled the world with goodness. St. Antony had gone to preach to the fallen Catholics in the Italian town of Rimini. They did not want to accept the message. He persevered in preaching the good news despite much opposition. He continued to proclaim the word to the fishes, and miraculously, the fishes came to the top of the pond to listen to him. This melted the hard hearts of his hearers.

Let us also persevere in our efforts to resist evil with good. Let us proclaim with the psalmist, "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path." Let us also say, "It is no use cursing the darkness; let us light a candle instead."