Homily for Monday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

Jesus encouraged His disciples to respond to evil not with more evil but with kindness. The worst human instinct is to react to goodness with malicious intent, which is exemplified by the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus, who "went about doing good; for God was with Him." The best human instinct is to conquer evil with goodness, reflecting a divine impulse—God's own impulse. This was a defining characteristic of Jesus Christ. In response to the evil committed against Him, He consistently chose to act with goodness. Even when unjustly rejected, He expressed His love fully, living and dying to defeat evil with goodness.

Remaining good in the face of evil is incredibly challenging. It is difficult to stay loving amid hostility, to be faithful when betrayed, and to serve as peacemakers in a hostile world. We cannot rely solely on our own strength for this; we need God's strength, resources, and Spirit. However, we should not fear failure, as God's strength and grace are always available to us. Saint Paul urges us "not to receive the grace of God in vain." God continually offers us grace, and by depending on Him, we can strive toward the ideal of overcoming evil with good.