Cycle A - Year II:  

16 February 2020: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading:        Sirach 15:15-20

Second Reading:   1 Corinthians: 2:6-10

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

"A life of righteousness!"

Our experience tells us that not everything is really what it seems to the eye at first. Because our natural world can be deceiving sometimes.  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 the month of February is a celebration of love!

The Gospel message this Sunday also reminds us of the importance of inner realities over and above  what is tangible to the eyes.  So then our Lord Jesus Christ reminds that to be His followers requires more than external observance of God's Laws but must include our inner conviction foremost.

Now recall that during Jesus' time, the Scribes and Pharisees prided themselves on their meticulous observance of the Law.  But in our Lord's standard, there is something missing in their observance of the Law.  So then Jesus challenges His followers that their righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees.

So then, what exactly 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 pleasing to the Lord and worthy of His blessing?"

To explain Himself further, Jesus uses the Ten Commandments to preach to His followers how to go beyond the surface-level spirituality and deeper into inner motivation.  Let us reflect on the following as examples:

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 to 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 so that there is no need for any oath to back up our claims.

To summarize our reflection, the central message of the Gospel reading 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 of 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 preconditions that lead us to commit sin. For sin is really a disconnect from loving God.

In the Eucharist at Holy 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 us from sin.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!