|
Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary-
Homilies |
"Called
to Be Saints in Perfect Charity"
Homily for the
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Fr. Jonathan L. Reardon
February 20, 2011
Year A
The dictionary defines a ‘hero’ as a
‘remarkably brave person; somebody admired, and a really long
sandwich.’ I’m sure we all have heroes in our lives – people who
think are remarkably brave, someone whom we admire. We probably
even had our own childhood heroes – some from cartoons, comic
books, movies and so on. Our heroes quite possibly could be
relatives, friends, a teacher, or even a boss. Whomever we look
up to or have looked up to in our lives we know that these
people are the ones who go the extra mile in life. Their heroism
runs deeply within them – to their very core. They reach beyond
themselves, and invite others to live charity beyond the
criteria of the world. To the point where they are characterized
by the way they reach out, by their actions. Is this not what we
hear in our Gospel – Jesus exhorting us to be heroes?
Our Lord
offers some very vivid examples of how we can be heroes. He sets
the stage with the phrase: “you have heard that it was said,”
introducing a quote from or an illusion to the Law – sometimes
this includes the way the law was understood and applied. He
follows these words with: “but I say to you” – the mark of a
solemn pronouncement that brings forth a deeper meaning of the
law and how it is to be lived in the kingdom. The ancient Greek
translation of “I” in these statements is emphatic and thus
presents this teaching with authority. With these vivid examples
and the emphatic pronouncement of them, Jesus calls His
disciples to a higher standard than that of the scribes and
Pharisees. He brings out the true meaning of the Law – that
external conformity is not enough, the law must penetrate the
heart so as to live in accord with God’s will in order to become
true children of God.
Thus,
the must striking of these examples given is to love one’s
enemies, to do good to those who persecute us, to be perfect as
our heavenly Father is perfect. With its founding in the Book of
Leviticus – which we read in our first reading, this was
probably the most startling of all the teachings given. In first
century Palestine, this saying would have had a direct reference
to the tyranny of the Roman oppressors. Jesus challenges His
hearers to do good to them, to pray for them, to love the very
people who occupy their land, tax them heavily, and treat them
with violence and hostility because whenever His disciples are
able to respond to such ill treatment they take on the
characteristics of Christ Himself. For as St. Gregory Nazianzen
teaches – there is nothing in man more divine, more Christ-like,
than his meekness and patience in doing good.
Our Lord’s repeated calls for us to live more charitably
challenge us to follow His lead by finding concrete ways of
helping others, by reaching out to those in need, by not being
so quick to judge, or get angry, by not speaking unkindly about
others – This is not so easy, especially when we find ourselves
in similar situations in our modern day lives as those of people
in Jesus’ era – with people who treat us poorly or with someone
who rubs us the wrong way. Yet, we must remind ourselves that
each and every person deserves to be treated with dignity and
respect because in each person we find the image of God stamped
within their soul and upon their face. This is no easy task, but
we know that living in charity makes us more understanding,
ready to forgive, fit to live alongside one another in harmony
and peace. It also does not make us naďve. We must still deal
with people with prudence and justice. The Second Vatican
Council’s document on the Church in the Modern World –
Gaudium et Spes – highlights this point:
“Love and
courtesy of this kind should not, of course, make us indifferent
to truth and goodness. Love, in fact, impels the followers of
Christ to proclaim to all men the truth that saves. But we must
distinguish between the error – which must always be rejected –
and the one who is in error, for he never loses his dignity as a
person even though he flounders amid false or inadequate
religious ideals.”
Today, and everyday, Jesus invites and calls us to reach beyond
ourselves, to be remarkably brave, to be people who are admired
for the heroic virtue that is manifested in our daily living.
But we must first be reminded that this cannot be done if the
only time we practice charity, the only time we practice our
faith and being Christian is inside the walls of this church. We
cannot box up who we are as followers of Christ into one day,
for one hour because it is simply not enough. Rather, we come
here to raise the bar in our standard of living, to have our
spirits strengthened by the grace of Christ and to enliven our
hearts with His love. Accordingly, assisted by grace, charity
will impel us to devote ourselves to prayer, doing good works,
and being a good example – an example of what it means to be a
true Christian – not just for the people closest to us, not just
for our friends, our charity should in no way be limited
because, again, it is not enough. We are called to a higher
standard, to allow the external practice of our faith – the
teachings of Jesus to sink deeply into our hearts, we are called
to be more than heroes, but rather, saints.
Therefore, as we approach the altar to receive Him in this Holy
Eucharist, let us open our hearts to this grace, be transformed
by God and take on the characteristics of Christ Himself in our
everyday living.
