February 19, 2017
7th Sunday Ordinary
We use the word “holy†to refer to something or someone special or sacred but we do not usually apply “holy†to ourselves. But the Lord says to Moses: “Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them to be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.â€
“Holy†means set apart. The people of Israel are “set apart†when they enter into covenant with God. Holiness has an ethical dimension. “You shall not bear hatred…Take no revenge...Cherish no grudge…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.†St. Paul reminds the Church at Corinth: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you?†We are “holy†because God dwells in us. As God is “set apart†so the Corinthians are set apart from the prevailing culture, its values and its misconceptions. There can be no place for factions tearing the community apart.
Jesus proposes holiness beyond our human sensibilities: “offer no resistance to one who is evil…when someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well…†Jesus challenges his disciples to extend the prescriptions in the law intended for neighbor to adversaries and enemies: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.â€
At the very end of our Gospel, Jesus concludes: “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.†“Perfect†(in Greek “teleiosâ€) does not me faultless behavior. A better translation is “devotedness.†It appears again in Matthew 19:16 when a man approaches Jesus and asks: “what good must I do to gain eternal life?†Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. This seeker has kept the commandments. Jesus goes on: “If you wish to be “perfect,†go sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.†He left crestfallen because he had many possessions.
“Be holy†would seem to be impossible task. Impossible for us – “but for God all things are possible.†It is less a matter of our effort and more one of God’s grace.
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6th Sunday Ordinary
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8th Sunday Ordinary
