Homily for the 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time, cycle (A)
Matthew 5.38-48 : On the mountain, Jesus continued to teach his disciples. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Are you comfortable?
I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Based on today’s readings, I’m not sure Jesus would think it’s a good thing, either.
Our Gospel today continues on from the beatitudes about 20 verses before – remember the BE-attitudes we talked about a few weeks ago? Jesus elaborated on His message, knowing that disciples didn’t get it. In his Gospel, Matthew gives us that elaboration, knowing that we don’t get it either.
So, why don’t we get it?
I think it is because Jesus’ message seems so ‘contrary to the worlds message. For example, Jesus says “Love your enemies”. The world says “fight fire with fire”. Jesus says- no, fight Fire with Water. If someone is angry with you, being angry back just makes the situation worse. Seek rather to bring to the situation that which was missing – fight the fire of anger and hatred and prejudice with the pouring out of the water of love, care, concern, mercy, and compassion.
Jesus’ message is also an uncomfortable message… it’s a message of turning cheeks and swallowing pride, a message of judging not and condemning not, a message of giving to takers, of blessing cursers, and of loving haters. It is a radical Message in a society that doesn’t like radicals, and it calls for a radical conversion in you and I who, if we are honest with ourselves, don’t want to be converted. don’t want to be changed. We are uncomfortable with change.
You see, you and I have grown comfortable….. and much of what we do in our lives is precisely to avoid discomfort.
- In a society that is comfortable with removing outward signs of faith or religion, we avoid feeling uncomfortable by giving visible witness to our faith, and we feel particularly uncomfortable sharing our views around family life and about moral issues.
- In a society that is comfortable in talking about the rights of non-smokers to a healthy life, we feel uncomfortable in talking about the rights of the unborn and the elderly to life itself.
- In a society that is comfortable with talking about rights of self-determination and almost limitless personal freedom, we are uncomfortable talking about the spiritual and moral dangers of making decisions that have long-term impact on our lives, and our society
When our children know more about teen pop idols than they do about Jesus Christ, isn’t it time for us to reassess the place and priority our faith has in our lives?
You and I are not called to be comfortable. If we follow our Lord, then we are called question and challenge those institutions that perpetuate hatred, greed, power, control, oppression
We must be willing to NOT take the comfortable road, or the comfortable pew. Our greatest challenge in this however, is that we are called to respond, not in anger, nor hatred, nor violence, but to respond out of love. And if that is to occur, then it calls us to change our own hearts first.
So, this is the challenge Jesus gives us today
- we are challenged to get past our discomfort, and live our lives not afraid of sharing our faith,
- we are challenged to share our experience of being loved by God with others;
- we are challenged to respond in love when be see hatred.
- we are challenged to share our blessings, not hoard them,
- we are challenged to reach out to those who hurt, not ignore their pain,
- we are challenged to proclaim our faith not hide it,
- we are challenged to remember that what really counts in life is the way we love others.
- we are challenged in all of these actions to be channels that reveal the love and mercy of God.
- And in all of this, we are challenged to ignore any discomfort we may feel,
so – are you up to the challenge? ……. or would you prefer to remain ‘comfortable’