“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU, THAT YOU MAY BE CHILDREN OF YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER"
Matthew 5, 38-48
Rev. Alexander Diaz
The modern technological world is a competitive world, in an extraordinary way, there are large dimensions trying to create the best phone, make the best food, the fastest computer and see who has the best prices and the best deals.
To this huge progressive and competitive world, today's liturgy invites us, Jesus’ followers, to add value to our behavior, to define the differentiating factor in our behavior so that every day we can be better men and women.
The Lord offers us through the book of Leviticus: "Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.” A huge challenge that overwhelms us! With these words so clear, I begin to think: Can we accept this challenge?
Many people do not even realize that there is this challenge and that apart from being a challenge is a direct mandate from God to be perfect.
I worry about the simple fact that to talk about holiness in this time is an old fashioned thing, everyone wants to live their own life, their own space and their own life experience, all these is fine, but they do not want to include God in their life, we do everything else first, but leave God to the last.
John Paul II speaking on this subject stated: “Holiness is not something reserved to a few chosen souls, all without exception are called to holiness. For all the graces necessary are sufficient and no one is excluded. The temptation misleading and that is always repeated, is the desire to improve society by improving only the external structures, leaving aside the spiritual fulfillment of man that is where we find true happiness. The Church, rather than "reformers" have need of saints, because saints are the real and most prolific reformers”
I love the Pope's speech, because we always think of changing all existing structures, but we never bothered to change ourselves within.
To this challenge God commands us to in the Old Testament, Jesus in the gospel sends us a larger and more difficult one, he proposes: “You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.”(Matthew 5, 38-48)
These words of Jesus make us nervous because they touch the innermost fibers of our being, we must recognize that our interior is sensitive to cultivate many grievances: friends of many years ended up hating each other, couples that separated and caused each other very deep wounds during this process; hatred between brothers over an inheritance. The examples could go on indefinitely.
These wounds will not heal automatically as a result of an act of will. Forgiveness and reconciliation are not from the purely human feelings but are the result of God's grace. Let us ask God's help so that we can move in that direction and thus heal the wounds of the heart, and leave behind old resentments.
The challenge propose to us by the Master, is to make a difference that requires us to follow Jesus, a difference that is not easy to make, requires humility and acceptance to follow-up, not look back, and without false appearances, authenticity and love, this is already a clear call to holiness that He does.
After this overview of the message communicated in today's liturgy, let’s consider some particular aspects, which Jesus invites us to live and change a millennial environment with respect to the law, if we want to be holy and find perfection we must do and make a difference.
Jesus makes a clear call to change the "law of retaliation": “You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.” (Mt. 5, 39)
When we hear this formulation we shudder because it sounds like a call for vengeance, but despite appearances, the content is very wise for what is demanded is that there is a proportion between crime and punishment, and calls no exaggeration or over-reactions in terms of imposing punishment.
The followers of Jesus must not content ourselves with fulfilling the minimum established in laws and standards, we must go further in terms of excellence so that we show a difference in the way we act as part of a family, as citizens and Church members, we see the law not as an imposition but as an element that help us live more fully our Christian life, the law is fulfilled by conviction not by obligation.
That the invitation that Jesus makes us this Sunday will help us to live fully our desire for holiness and sanctity that we get this love watching the grace that God gives us each day, dutifully fulfilling the standards.
Amen
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