Word to the Wise
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - Tuesday in the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Kings 21:17-29 and Matthew 5:43-48]After the death of Naboth, the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite: "Start down to meet Ahab, king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He will be in the vineyard of Naboth, of which he has come to take possession. This is what you shall tell him, "The Lord says: After murdering, do you also take possession.......
Many years ago, when I was a freshman student at Tulane University, I took my first class in the subject of philosophy. There was one textbook, THE REPUBLIC, by Plato. I still have the paperback edition with my notes in it. I recall vividly the first topic of discussion: Does might make right? Apparently the problem is still with us, and has governed national, local and individual behavior! It governed Ahab's behavior (once he was persuaded by his formidable Queen, Jezebel!) Ahab wants Naboth's vineyard. Naboth considers the vineyard his personal heritage and will not give it up no matter how much Ahab offers. So Jezebel, acting much like King David did with Uriah the Hittite (he wanted Uriah's wife, Bathsheba!), has Naboth falsely accused and stoned. Ahab then seizes the vineyard and is confronted by Elijah, just as David was confronted by Nathan the prophet. It is discouraging to hear of authorities causing great harm or individuals hurting others simply because they are in a position of power and want something that belongs to another. Lord Acton's dictum about the corrupting influence of power is demonstrated over and over again. It may not be a desire for another man's wife or vineyard. It could be a desire for more power or prestige. Those who believe that might makes right see the matter as a form of Darwinian survival of the fittest - the fittest being those with power to impose their will on others. This is "right" in their eyes. It cannot be "right" in the teaching of Jesus. He consistently insists that the only true power is the power of loving service to one another. The delusion of power is that one may act with impunity simply because one has the power to do it! Those of us who call ourselves "Christian" should know better and act better. AMEN