7TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Leviticus 19:1-2.17-18

Psalm 103

1 Corinthians 3:16-23

Matthew 5:38-48

LOVE OF THE ENEMY 

In today's gospel, Jesus continues his Sermon on the mount. Contrary to the law of retaliation in the Old Testament, which regulated revenge in terms of proportionality between the punishment and the offense, Jesus proposes a completely different approach: no violence and resistance to the wicked, love of one’s enemy, praying for one’s persecutors, etc. 

Indeed, Jesus’ teaching may seem ridiculous, unreasonable and unacceptable in our world where human logic advocates for revenge, violence and demonstration of power; where forgiveness and not responding to “acts of provocation” are seen as signs of weakness and fear. While Jesus’ teaching may be mistakenly seen as a way of condoning injustices and evil-doing, the first reading seems more sense-making, for it invites us to show love and kindness to our own kind: no hatred for our brothers and sisters, to reprove our fellow citizens fraternally, no revenge and no grudge against any of our own people, to love our neighbours as ourselves.

Nevertheless, Jesus’ teaching finds justification in two statements from today’s liturgy: (i) "Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy" (Lev. 19:2); and (ii) "You therefore will be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). These are invitations to be like God, just as the saying goes “like father, like son”. In God there is no grudge, no revenge, no hatred; He is kind and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in love (Ps 102). He makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45). As such, we are invited to show love even to those who do not merit it; something that may seem foolish to the logic of the world, which is foolishness in the eyes of God (1 Co 3:16-23). 

Finally, it could be observed that we Christians have a long way to go as much as love is concerned. Even the pagans reciprocate love, and the tax-collectors greet those who greet them. But as Christians we often fail to love those who love us; we hate our brothers and sisters; and look for the downfall of our own kind. Some of us do not even respond to the greetings because we hold grudges and resentment against those who greet us. As such, let us pray the Lord to touch our hearts so that we may not be worse that pagans and tax-collectors, but know that the best way to take revenge on one’s enemies is to love them.

6TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Sirach 15:15-20

Psalm 119

1Cor. 2:6-10

Matthew 5:17-37

FULFILLING THE LAW

Today's Gospel is an excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount, often characterized by the radical choices that Jesus invites his disciples to make. In today's passage, Jesus presents himself as the New Moses who came not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfil and perfect it. In fact, the Law should not be considered as a simple set of precepts prohibiting certain behaviours, but as a means to realize our humanity and a way to enter into a life of communion with God.

In this dynamic, it is not enough not to commit murder, but we need to avoid anger and hatred, and to choose forgiveness and reconciliation. It’s not enough not to commit adultery, but to educate our gaze to purity of heart and mind and avoid the least occasion of sin. It is not enough not to take false oaths but to cultivate integrity, sincerity and faithfulness; we must be men and women of our words.

It is therefore obvious that Jesus invites us to go beyond “the wisdom of this age”, to use the words of Saint Paul in the second reading, and to embrace the “wisdom of God” which is revealed to us in the Gospel. It is a radical choice and often difficult to make but that leads to freedom. Jesus invites us to look at our interior disposition, into our hearts in whatever we do or say. For we often regret the consequences of some of our choices; and unfortunately, we blame God or others for the misfortunes result from our actions. Thus, Ben Sirach reminds us that each of us is free and responsible for his choices and actions.

Reflecting on man’s free will and responsibility, Ben Sirach says that (i) man is free to choose good or evil, and (ii) to choose good is to make the best choice which leads to happiness and life. There are therefore two ways which are constantly open before us: the path of good which leads to happiness, to a life of eternal bliss with God, and the path of evil which leads to unhappiness, sadness and death. In a confident prayer, let us ask the Lord to grant us the grace to always choose the path of good so that one day we may enter into eternal life. Amen

5TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Isaiah 58:7-10

Psalm 111

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Matthew 5:13-16

               SALT AND LIGHT

“You are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world.” These are Jesus’ words to his disciples in today’s gospel passage, taken from his Sermon on the mount. Salt and light are two familiar images; and Jesus uses them to reveal the identity and mission of Christians in the world. Beyond the multiple functions of salt, it is mainly used for flavouring and preserving food. Light, on the other hand, reveals the beauty of the world and the beings that inhabit it, and preserves men from living in darkness (Matt. 5:13-16).

What is common to these two ordinary elements is that they do not exist for themselves, but for others. For example, salt gives flavour to food by disappearing, by dissolving. Thus, being “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” is tantamount to living for others, serving them in discretion, in self-effacement, in humility to the glory of God. And this is what Jesus did when he offered himself on the cross for us. 

Accordingly, St Paul tells the Corinthians that proclaiming the mystery of God to them as revealed in Jesus Christ, he resolved to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. For this mystery is a scandal to human logic and is to be communicated not so much in persuasive words, rhetoric or philosophical arguments, but through concrete ways of living in the power of God (1 Cor. 2:1-5). Moreover, according to the prophet Isaiah, concrete gestures of mercy, justice, love, sharing and generosity towards others, especially towards the needy, attract the favour, healing and closeness of God. By so doing, one’s light shall break forth like the dawn and God’s glory will be his shield (Is. 58:7-10).  

As such, today’s message is addressed to each one of us. If there is much growing neglect for the poor and the needy, corruption, social injustices, unhealthy competition, conflicts, etc., in our world today, it is because we Christians are not conscious of our mission, or better still, have failed to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” As Pope Paul VI rightly said “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” Let us pray God that he may grant us his grace to his true witnesses by being salt of the earth and light to the world. Amen