The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
I recently finished reading the biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. It paints a picture of a person that, while deeply flawed in some ways, was incredibly brilliant. Isaacson's Jobs is one who cared about the details that no one else cared about. This passion for brilliance and perfection in every aspect of an Apple product caused tremendous turmoil and the shaking of heads by those who thought Jobs foolish. But it was precisely this "foolishness" and willingness to go above and beyond in ways no one else did that changed the landscape of consumer electronics and product design forever.
While reading, I often found myself asking why Jobs went to such incredible lengths. Did the specific blue of a computer case, or the design of circuits that no one would ever see really matter? Coincidentally, I found myself asking a similar question while reading today's Gospel. In it, Jesus makes a big ask. He challenges us to go the extra mile in service and charity for all people, not just those we love.
If I'm being completely honest, I often operate out of the "eye for an eye" model of love. I reciprocate the amount of love to those in my life based on the amount of love they give to me. But these are only to those I profess to love and cherish. How about those who offend me, challenge me, and are malicious toward me? Why should I love them? Shouldn't I protect myself? What about my boundaries? I don't want to be a pushover that constantly offers the other cheek. These questions begin to remind us how challenging this request of Jesus really is.
But perhaps this Gospel is not about letting people walk all over us, maybe it's about combating senseless evil with senseless good. In a world that sometimes nurtures the proliferation of evil, can we work to inspire the proliferation of good? It's my prayer that in the coming week, God places opportunities for us to multiply the good — that we collaborate with an abundant and providential God, remembering that a candle loses nothing by sharing its light.
Joe Kim is an educator and designer based in Highland Park, an artistic hub just a few minutes northeast of Downtown Los Angeles. His work in Catholic Education spans over twelve years, and he runs a Catholic apparel and goods company called PAL Campaign. He loves pretending to be an eccentric millionaire at Open Houses, listening to podcasts during workouts, and being inspired by great design.