Homily (2) Seventh
Sunday of Ordinary Time A: Fr. Michael
Ufok Udoekpo
Readings: Lev 19:1-2, 17-18; Ps
103:1-2,3-4,8,10,12-13; 1 Cor 3:16-23 and Matt 5:38-48Love and Charity- the fullness of Law in Christ!
I was born in the time of the Vatican II, just
like many of you (in this Congregation). Obviously, there are also many of you
who were born before the Vatican II Council. This group would testify that
there have been a lot changes, updating, innovation and renewals, particularly
in the areas of liturgical teachings and laws in the Church to meet the needs
of the time and culture. Remember, there were times priests were celebrating
the Holy mass backing the congregation. But today Masses are celebrated facing
the people. There were times Scriptures at worship were read only in Latin.
Today we can read it in English. Different nations and cultures can also read
it in their native languages. Thanks be to God!
In some nations there were times women and the
minority were not allow to vote at elections. But today those laws have been
changed around. In other parts of the
world where cast- system and dictatorship style of government are practice,
many are beginning to realize the need for and update. What about the issues of
equal pay? In the past men were paid higher than women. Today, we are all agitating
for equal pay. What about the “stand your ground laws” in different parts of
the United States, Florida in particular? Some are asking that this law be
reviewed.Why am I saying this? I am saying this because of today’s Bible readings. The Book of Leviticus 19:17-18, part of the Holiness Code (Lev 17–26) which says “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But Jesus today, in Matthew’s Gospel says “love your enemy” (Matt 5:44), no retaliation, be charitable to all. The Book of Exodus 21:24-25, quoted even by Jesus, said, “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth,” but Jesus says, “offer no resistance to one who is evil.” (Matt 5:38-42).
What we
must bear in mind as we reflect on these Bible passages is that
just as we have laws in the church and in the society today been constantly
reviewed or updated, the ancient society also needed laws that were been
constantly reviewed, innovated and updated to regulate it. Every Society
beginning from the time of Moses, Paul and Jesus needed laws and ethical
principles to regulate it. They needed an acceptable way of dealing with those
who disrupt it. For examples, laws in
the book of Exodus were constantly updated in Leviticus, in Deuteronomy, in
Nehemiah down to the time of Jesus. Think of what our society would have been
without laws against running the red light or robbing a bank.
The retributive ethics of the Covenant Code,
‘an eye for an eye or a tooth for tooth” that Christ is working on today from
Exodus 21:24-25 was not meant to promote revenge and retaliation. Rather they
were meant to protect the citizens against un-proportional, illegitimate and
unending retaliation. They were meant to say if a “fly perches on your food you
don’t need to attack the fly with an atomic bomb or AK47. Otherwise you might cause more damage than
the fly. I remember the last Russian –Georgia war the language of
disproportional use of force was constantly used on the media. But for Christ,
charity must overcome the thought and the acts of retaliation and violence and
disproportionate wars not meant to dissuade attacking enemies and acts of
terrorism.
Christ also takes up the Holiness ethics of
the first reading, Leviticus 19:18, which says, “You shall love your neighbor
as yourself.” And “neighbor” here
is referring to a fellow
Israelite, since a different attitude was required towards those other nations
that were hostile to them (see Deut 23:1-3). Certainly, during the time of
Christ these laws were also changing. But Jesus teaches us today to take a
different spiritual and moral steps and a refined position with regard to our
relationship with everybody including those we do not like so much, or those we
know do not like us. We need to reread and re-listen to Christ’s sermon on the mountain
(Matt 5:1-12), Christ is telling us today that everyone is your neighbors, love
them (Matt 5:38-48).
We also see the true Christian definition of a
neighbor in the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 29-36. We see this in the
encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan women in John chapter 4:4-42. This is
what faith does. This is what the water of baptism does. It sets us apart to
live the law of love and of Christ!Sometimes without faith and prayers, Christ invitation to holiness of life of non-revenge and non-violence or practice of charity to everyone sounds frightening and impossible. They are possible with the grace of God. And we can do this in many little ways.
Christ did not come to abolish the laws, but
to fulfill them. He rather came replacing violence, racisms, discriminating
love with his mission to the cross (Luke 23:24), teaching us how to love and
forgive all, including those who persecute the church or ill-treat us. It is
uncharitable if we rush to rashes judge
our neighbors, “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 3:16-23) or put up a stone face or domineering
behavior, becoming absorbed in our
personal limited opinions, and world-views in place of openness, a warm smile.
It is uncharitable even to select those we say
“good morning” to. Or engage in gossips, negative criticism, retaliations or
spread falsehoods about our neighbors. For Christ this will be a pagan way of
travelling. And none of us would want to travel that low road. We want to live
and travel the law which is of fullness of love in Christ!
Let us pray at this Mass for a the grace to live this law of love with deep
universal charity and spirit of faith- perseverance to be holy as our Heavenly Father
is Holy (Lev 19:2).
