Poor Naboth did not have a chance. An evil king and queen wanted his vineyard, which he did not want to sell. Uncontrolled greed and unjust hearts are very difficult to resist, and they usually have their way. Eventually, queen Jezebel arranged for him to be murdered so that her husband could obtain the vineyard. But we live under a just God and in a moral universe. The prophet proclaimed to them that they would suffer the same end, and they did. In the end, God's justice always triumphs. Justice is not the best way - it is the only way.

Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek when we are wronged. It sounds impossible, unjust, and even undesirable, but he means not to seek retaliation or revenge. When we use violence or resort to the same tactics as our oppressors, we lose and become like them. The world does not need more violence or retaliation. Resist, but use the non-violent methods of the Beatitudes. The teachings of Jesus are sometimes difficult, but they are powerful and will transform our hearts and the world around us.