Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, February 23, 2020

Homily Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, February 23, 2020

Readings for 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
FIRST READING: Lev 19:1-2, 17-18

PSALM: Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8+10, 12-13. "The Lord is kind and merciful."

SECOND READING: 1 Cor 3:16-23

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (1 John 2:5). Alleluia, alleluia! Whoever keeps the word of Christ, grows perfect in the love of God.

GOSPEL: Matt 5:38-48

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed photo. ID: 2772179 Model of Jerusalem dating from the time of the Second Temple. By Khirman Vladimir
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, February 23, 2020 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-207-seventh-sunday-ordinary-time-a/s-ccYMT  (EPISODE: 207)
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Note:  continuing from last week....   the source and the goal of discipleship is to share in the heart of God....   to dwell in God's love and reflect God's love....   love is at the heart of everything. to become truly Christ-like; not only in our appearances but in essence...  which is to BE love...   // this changes everything...   we focus not on perfecting external actions...  but put all our energies into allowing God's love and compassion to grow in our hearts and flow out into our attitudes and actions...   //

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Saint Paul uses a wonderful image to show us that God is building us up into a worthy dwelling place for him to live in us. But he says that we are not being formed into any old home for God,…… "We are invited to become not just an occasional holiday shack for God, but a permanent home and, (even moreso...), a "Temple" for God to live in.  And the Greek word for "temple" used here implies not just the facade of the Temple of Jerusalem, but the inner sanctuary - the "Holy of Holies" (where only one priest could enter at a time. Apparently the priest on duty had a rope tied around them so if they fainted or died while in this inner sanctuary they could be hauled out by the rope without anyone else entering!)   
 
So, each of us is invited to become, body, soul and mind,  an extremely holy place for God to dwell. 
 
What renovations do we need God's grace to create in us, to make us a worthy place?  (a temple)? 
 
A temple is building which is "purpose built". Every room and every item in that place is there for the purpose of worshiping God (who abides in that temple), and for doing God's works. …… 
 
So, our lives, and everything about us, is similarly put to the use of God; We become willing instruments of God's Kingdom…  We are God's temple, says Saint Paul, and this is an amazing thought. 
 
This weekend, with the Gospel, there are two words that bear deeper reflection; and need a bit of clarification.  
 
Firstly we are told by Jesus:  "Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect" – 
This is not an invitation to perfectionism (which is quite a different thing).  
In fact, we actually see in Our Lord's life and ministry, that he was the opposite of a "nit-picking" legalist, who was prickly around other people because they didn't do everything "just right." The Greek word "perfect," here, actually means "Telios" that is (like the word 'telescope')/ an unfolding to achieve its maximum potential/  achieving full capacity/ Reaching maturity/ Becoming whole or complete…/  "To be best suited for its purpose"…. (For example.. a 'tailored suit' is Telios – that is, it is designed to perfectly fit the wearer's proportions)
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So, we are invited to allow God's Kingdom to fit us like a designer Baptismal garment/.. matching just right !/ …. But, we are the ones who are being shaped to fit God's ways, and not the opposite... of us trying to cut-down God's Kingdom to suit our convenience.   
 
The second problematic saying is "love your enemies"… 
This is extremely difficult for teaching. "Pray for those who hurt you"…… 
Firstly the Greek word used here is not like the love of husband and wife. Also, this word is (understandably) nothing like the love that one has for a family member or a close friend…. It is 'agape" - That is, the different kind of love that wishes well to the other, show basic human respect and indicates an act of reason. It is not so much a love coming from the heart, but (surprisingly in this situation), it is a decision (made by the head and enabled by a conscious, considered resolution), 
 
It is a deliberate choice to SHOW respect/ kindness, restraint, and regard to all people, irrespective of their actions, and irrespective of our feelings towards them. 
 
For doing this is mirroring how God treats us all. 
 
(This does NOT mean that we become doormats or punching bags for Christ! That would be unjust and unacceptable. And in any case, Jesus is giving this teaching to disciples, most of whom would have been quite capable of knocking the head off someone who slapped them even once!  Christ's new followers would have needed to use their willpower not to strike back !. Christ is teaching us that, Abiding in God's love, we don't have to lower our response or attitude, to that of those who seek to harm us. We do not need to return evil for evil – which would simply continue the vicious cycle of violence and hate.  
 
This is asking us something that does not come naturally. The bonds of natural affection and friendship are in some ways easier, but this is about the call of God's love - not the limits of the "bare minimum" God might expect. 
 
To the demands of the law, there are always limitations and exceptions …./ But to the claims of love, there are limits or exceptions/  And such a concept as "limits" makes no sense, to one who loves.
 
"A basic mistake in earthly wisdom is to think of life in terms of the law, instead of love. If we love a person deeply, passionately, humbly and selflessly, we will be quite sure that (in a poetic sense) if we were to give that person all we possessed, we will still be in default; That if we gave that person the sun, the moon and the stars, we will still be in debt, (a willing debt of love, that is !)/ 'One who is in love is always in debt'; The last thing that enters their mind is that they have earned a reward or can demand a response. If a person has a legalistic view of life, they may think constantly in terms of reward that has been won and what is "owed" to them;/ But, if a person has a loving view of life, the idea of reward would be jarring. …. (Again, here I think of parents… They love their children unconditionally… They give because they love… If they were doing it for reward or expecting the balance sheet one day to be truly "evened up"…., they will most certainly be waiting a long time !…… but that is not how a loving parent acts… and God does not think that way either… 
 
(Jesus invites us to enter into this mindset deeper and deeper each day). 
 
How much is sufficient? how much is enough? when given to one's beloved?…..
(how long is a piece of string?) …. It is a totally different way of seeing the world…"# 
 
So, Are we ready for this astounding invitation, from today's Gospel?"A person will be perfect ('Telios') (GSN5046) …. (or to put it more precisely… "mature and fit for the purpose for which we were created)," when we reflect the image and likeness of God, (for that is what God intended from the beginning of creation) (The Book of Genesis).
 
God's qualities are A universal benevolence and kindness, unconquerable goodwill, 
Constant seeking of the highest good of every person. 
God is love and shows love (to the saint and to sinner alike). 
No matter what people do in response, God seeks nothing but their highest good. 
 
Jesus is laying down three great rules—(which I feel anxious to lay down without watering it down or explaining it away, even though it calls us to go deeper than is comfortable or familiar)….The Christian avoids resentment or retaliation for insults, 
(no matter how deliberate); returning kindness and reverence, in the face of injury. 
 
The Christian does not stand or fall upon their legal rights or on any other rights they may believe themselves to possess; The Christian thinks not about their right to do as they like, but rather think always of our duty to be of help and to do good work with all our ability for the glory of God. We cannot achieve this alone. This can ONLY be achieved when the grace and love of God abide in us and flows outwards, into actions of kindness, mercy and compassion. "When we love, we are a sign and sacrament of the Kingdom of God… And, Jesus says to us:  'Love !, (not as others love but as I love), and BE that SIGN !"   
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References:
 
Fr Paul W. Kelly
 
Strong's Biblical Concordance: HelpsBible.com. copyright © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc.
 
# Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of MATTHEW. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press.
 
Cronin, G. (2003). Celebrating the Gospels. 1st ed. Liguori, Mo.: Liguori.
 
DeBona, G. (2013). Between the Ambo and the altar. 1st ed. Minnesota: Liturgical press.
 
Hodge, Vincent.  Note on the Greek word for "Temple," used in 1 Corinthians 3:17,  also see http://www.godrules.net/library/strongs2b/gre3485.htm

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 2772179 Model of Jerusalem dating from the time of the Second Temple. By Khirman Vladimir
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Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers. 

Prayers of the Faithful -   " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'.   E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).

{Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -  by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The ….Gloria,  copyright 2011 ccwatershed.org. } 

"Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of  William John Kelly -     Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

"Today I Arise" - For Patricia Kelly.  Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer.  Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. 

[ Production -  KER -  2020] 

May God bless and keep you. 
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A
(Sunday, February 23, 2020)

(EPISODE: 207)

The Lord be with you.
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{{May Our Lord's gift of dignity and community enliven you. }}

As we prepare to celebrate the great Sacramental feast of Gods love, let us pause, recall our sins, and trust in Gods infinite mercy.
Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life: Lord, have mercy// //Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins: Christ, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you feed us with your body and blood: Lord, have mercy//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation

3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.

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Sundays Ordinary VI

Euch prayer two

Communion side.  pwk:  RH
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{Many thanks for participating in this time of praise and reflection upon our loving God.}

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.