1 Kings 21 : 1-16 / Matthew 5 : 38-42 (2020)
King Ahab, who was king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 874 BC, was described in the first book of Kings as "worse than all his predecessors" (1 Kings 16 : 30)
But what we heard in today's 1st reading was probably one of his most disgusting and greedy act that eventually lead to a great injustice and the loss of an innocent life.
King Ahab wanted Naboth's vineyard, not for any good reason, but just to grow his vegetables.
Yet Ahab know that the law actually prevented Naboth from selling or giving up his family inheritance.
Still he had the cheek to sulk and be angry to the extent that he would not even eat!
Well, we don't have to go further into what evil Jezebel did.
If we think that how Ahab behaved as a king was utter disgusting, then we should also read the letter of James concerning disunity among Christians.
James 4 : 1-3 says that we want something and we cannot get it so we are prepared to kill. We have an ambition that we cannot satisfy so we fight to get our way by force.
We easily forget that by virtue of our baptism, we are a priestly, prophetic and kingly people.
We need to be deeply aware of our identity and union in Christ.
Failing which, any sin that we commit, regardless of its gravity, is utterly atrocious, simply because of who we are.