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12 February 2017: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical color: Green)

Gospel: Please read  Matthew 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37

Live the spirit of the Law!

Our material world can be deceiving, sometimes.  Because not everything is really what it seems to the eye. Perhaps, that is why the romantics would say that real beauty is not seen by the eyes but felt only by the heart, a timely message as we celebrate this month Valentine's Day.

The Gospel message this Sunday reminds us of the importance of inner realities over and above what is tangible to the eyes. Our Lord Jesus reminds that to be His followers requires more than external observance of God's Laws but includes our inner conviction as well. 

During the time of Jesus, the Scribes and the Pharisees prided themselves on thieir meticulous observance of the Law. But in Jesus' standard, there is something missing in their observance of the Law. Thus, Jesus challenges His followers that their righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees.

So, what then is "righteousness"?  Simply put, it means one must be in right relationship with God. And to be "righteous", Jesus challenges His followers to get radical, meaning, to go to the roots of our thoughts, words, and deeds by asking ourselves "is this thought, word or act ple asing to the Lord and worthy of His blessing"?

In particular, Jesus uses the Ten Commandments to preach to His followers how to go beyond surface-level spirituality and deeper into inner motivation. Le:t us reflect on the following:

The sixth commandment: "You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment." The law is not simply to avoid murder but also not to harbor ill feelings and not not speak evil against our neighbor. Because angry  and insulting words violate a person's dignity.

On the seventh commandment: "You shall not commit adultery." Jesus says that even to look at a woman with lust has already committed adultery. Because lustful thoughts against a woman violate the virtue of chastity as much as the act of adultery itself.

On the ninth commandment not to take a false oath against neighbor: Jesus says that it is better to be truthful in everything we say to that there is no need for any oath to back up our claims.

In sum, the demands of discipleship are tough and challenging. The central message of the Gospel today is that the essence of God's Law is love. For God's original intention from the beginning of creation is a loving relationship with Him, with our fellow human beings, and with the rest of creation. Thus, the observance of God's Law must spring from love for God. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ demands not only the external avoidance of evil and anything that offends God, but to take away as well any and all interior precondition that lead us to commit sin. For sin is really a disconnect from loving God.

In the Eucharist at Mass, let us pray to grow in love of God, which is free and self-giving, like the sacrificing love of the Son that redeems from from sin.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!