💖 HOMILY - FEBRUARY 24 💖

First Reading - Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Gospel - Matthew 5:43-48

We have heard people say:"I can forgive but can't forget." Well, forgetting anything bad is very difficult but by harbouring them in our hearts can also do us no good. The readings of today encourage us to get healed from wounds of the past by getting reconciled with it with a response of love.

The first reading places foregoing Deuteronomistic Code for our reflection. The emphasis of the passage is to exert people in prompt action of obedience to the commandment of God. Moses encourages the people to abide by the law to show their love for God and prove themselves as His children. He further evokes the covenantal bond that has been ratified between God and the people of Israel; as to people, by accepting Yahweh as their God; and as to God, by adopting or accepting the people as His own people. However, Moses admonishes people to remain faithful to God by observing the law of God and assures them that God will make them a great nation.

Through the gospel passage of the day, Jesus teaches us, how to observe the statues or commandment of the Lord. Jesus speaks as an authoritative interpreter of the law (can be said as new Moses, lawgiver) and unfolds deeper implications of it. Regarding the law of love of neighbour, he expands the horizon of neighborhood to limitless level. Jesus includes, besides our loved ones, even our enemies, persecutors and adversaries as the ones who should come under the purview of this norm. It is to say, all must receive equal love from us, whether a friend or a foe. This also implies that our love will certainly not be reciprocated equally by all but on our part we should still continue to do it. As a matter of fact, Jesus demands that the observance of the law should be done as God expects and does Himself; He does not show any partiality to anyone whether a sinner or the righteous so must be our behaviour with every person whether a friend or a foe. This way, we can observe the law and become perfect as God is perfect.

Dear friends, 'love' is a very simple word but inheres a great demand and sacrifice from us. Moses, in the first reading, reminds the people that their love for God will be proven by their observance of the commandment of God. Jesus expounds, how to abide by the commandment of God in the manner God the Father expects from us; it's by carrying it out as God Himself does it. It's really a difficult thing to carry out as God expects or does but this proves our love for God. When we love someone, we try to do whatever possible to prove our love for him or her either by giving material things or doing what she or she expects from us etc. They are the usual signs of the expression of our love for our loved ones. This is also so with our love for God; if we love God, we will do all possible things to please and show our love for Him. In this case, loving even our enemies and praying for those who persecute us will not be a strange thing.

'Love for love and hatred for hatred' is a quite common attitude we see. Jesus invites us today to respond hatred and enmity with love and prayer. It's easy to love those who love us but difficult to love those who do us harm or desire to do so, yet Jesus exhorts us today to love all as God loves us all with our weaknesses, failures, downfalls, and victories. This way, we can prove ourselves true children of God.

Let's pray that we may be able to remain faithful to the commandment of God by carrying it out as God expects from us.