Homily for the week of February 13, 2011

HOMILY: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2011

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sir 15:15-20 • 1 Cor 2:6-10 • Mt 5:17-37

Parents and teachers know that before you can communicate efffectively with children you have to get their attention. Jesus had his own way of getting His followers to pay close attention. He would say, “Amen, I say to you.” He often says: Amen, amen. But Jesus never used it at the end of a prayer as we do. The word “amen” has no English equivalent. It is an Aramaic word that was uttered when someone recognized the deep truth of something or when a teacher was about to reveal something of great importance. It is appropriate, then, that in some churches people feel free to shout “Amen!” when they agree with the speaker or minister.

Jesus uses Amen a few times in the shorten part of the Gospel which I just read. The readings for today set before us some basic principles for living out out daily lives as friends of Jesus. As much as God loves us and desires our good, God does not force us to accept the road leading to salvation. I repeat, God does not force us to accept the road leading to salvation. The choice is ours and is part of that wonderful gift of freedom which God has given us. Being able to use this gift of freedom requires a special kind of wisdom. This combination of freedom and wisdom enables us to carry out God's plan for us.

God gives us the opportunity to change our lives, to follow the road which leads to life. If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you. We have been given by God the power to chose between good and evil, between life and death.

God knows us so well that he knows and understands every one of our deeds and even our thoughts. Maybe fortunately, or unfortunately, God never commands us to act justly. However, God never gives us permission to do wrong. We need the wisdom described by Paul in our second reading. Paul reflects God's thinking. Paul prays that we will be given discernment so that we might have God's law in our heart.

Jesus proposes that obedience to the commandments is not something merely external, but rather something that comes from the heart. The scribes and Pharisees were, according to Jesus, missing the point of the Law. They were regarding it as external to them, something to be conformed to, observed in an exact and painstaking manner.

Jesus looks behind human behavior to its causes. For example, He does not focus on the Law's prohibition on killing; rather on theanger and abusive behavior that so often leads one person to kill another. Another example he uses is that of judging others or malicious gossip. It is so easy for any of us to say wrong things about the actions of others in our family or school or place where we work. We can so easily be wrong in our statements. If we truly try to understand why others act as they do then we will be more compassionate, patient, forgiving; we will be gentler, kinder, and more generous. Even then, Jesus tells us that forgiveness is a way out of the vicious circle of resentment and violence.

Jesus is the greatest example of that wisdom which God gives us. He was born and came among us to show us how we are to use those gifts of the heart. Jesus talks about using our freedom in making the right choices. He reminds us that are not to be politicians in that we make decisions for others to see, or what the polls might tell us. Rather we are to go beyond the letter of the law, and search our hearts, to look beyond and behind the outward expression of the laws. Jesus challenges us to look not at just what we do, but at the thoughts and motivations behind our behavior.

Jesus speaks of honesty as a way of life. Jesus says to us simply: say yes when we mean yes, and no when we man no should be enough proof for anyone. But we can only do this if we are completely honest and sincere. Jesus tells us that our care and concern for others goes way beyond laws forbidding murder or adultery. Treat others as children of God, and persons redeemed by the cross of Jesus.

In three weeks from this weekend we will begin Lent. Lent is a time for us to return to the Lord those parts of our life which we have taken over for ourselves, or to listen to the voice of God inscribed in our hearts.

The teaching of Jesus is truly challenging. Its focus is the heart, the place of human feelings, desires and hope. Jesus wishes to bring the human heart alive with the warmth of his love. When our efforts to become better people focus simply on behavior, they are misdirected and will be frustrated. Following the teaching of Jesus, we focus on the heart: on our feelings, desires and hopes. This is where Jesus is at work within us, and where the Spirit renews us. And what is changed on the inside will show itself on the outside.