Generally speaking, we want to be good people and more so if we call ourselves Christians, which means we want to live our lives according to the teachings of Christ.
Yes, we want to be kind and compassionate, to be loving and forgiving. And modestly speaking, we can manage to do that half the time.
But the other half of the time is when we want to go eye for eye and tooth for tooth.
And when we can't because we are not able to, then we will resort to what the people were saying in the 1st reading.
Admittingly we would say what they said: It is useless to serve God; what is the good of keeping His commandments or of walking mournfully before the Lord of hosts? The arrogant are called blessed and they prosper, these evildoers; they try God's patience and yet go free!
And we would also wish that what the prophet Malachi spoke about concerning judgement for the wicked would come about as soon as possible so that they will get what they deserve.
No doubt there will be judgement for the wicked but we don't have to hasten it for them or look forward to their retribution.
On the contrary, it is our duty to pray for their conversion and salvation. Otherwise our Christian identity is not anything special and we would be doing what the people in the world would be doing.
And in the gospel, Jesus has this to tell us about the parable that He told: If the man does not get up and give it to him for friendship's sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants.
Yes, it means that Jesus wants us to look at evildoers with friendly eyes and persist in returning evil with good so that they can be saved.
Let us ask for this, and where two or three gathered together in name of Jesus pray for this, then it will be granted.
Let us persist in praying, just as Jesus persisted in looking out for the lost in order to save them.