💖 HOMILY - JUNE 13 💖

First Reading - 1 Kings 18:41-46

Gospel - Matthew 5:20-26

Every society has a set of rules and regulations. They seem, at times, burdensome. However, there is a purpose behind every rule and regulation, and if we understand the purpose of them all, we will be able to live them happily. The readings of today invite us to understand the purpose behind our observance of any rule and regulation.

In the gospel passage, Jesus challenges us to become observers of the spirit of the law and not remain mere observers of the letters of the law. The challenge of Jesus - "If your virtues go no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven," is a demand for his disciples to make themselves virtuous, not in accordance with what the scribes and Pharisees have determined; that is, merely by observing the letters of the law. The disciples are encouraged by Jesus to surpass the literal observance of the law to comprehend the deeper meanings and implications of the law. He corroborates this by citing an example of the law: Don't kill. Jesus transcends the literal understanding of the injunction to its deeper implications and instructs the disciples to weed out the root of the very evil - anger. Anger expressed in words or actions can destroy a person; hence, Jesus holds it on equal footing with murder itself. Therefore, Jesus advises his followers to get the cause of anger settled before approaching God in prayer.

The first reading gives us a dramatic scene of the response to the prayer of Elijah for rain. The heavens were shut from rain, and the request of King Ahab to the prophet Elijah for rain finds an assuring word from the prophet. The prophet prays not only once or twice but continually (though seven times the servant was sent to see the formation of a cloud from the sea as part of the confirmation of the response to his prayer) to God, and God sends rain on the earth.

Dear friends, the gospel passage of today poses a challenge to us that we can't become virtuous by merely observing the letters of the law but by understanding the implications of the law and living our lives accordingly. We have the Ten Commandments. We may be observing them letter by letter, but if we have not understood the implications and deeper meanings of them, we will be like the scribes and Pharisees.

Jesus also challenges us today to weed out the root cause of evil from our lives rather than just observe the letters of the commandment. The prophet Elijah sets a beautiful example for us on how to recognize the root cause of any evil in us; it's in the silence of heart in prayer - not only once or twice but constantly sitting at the feet of Jesus. It's there we have hope to recognize and weed out the root cause of the evil that we suffer.

Let's learn to forgive one another from our hearts the wrongdoings, anger, and grudges we harbor against one another. Jesus tells us today that even a little anger can hurt and harm other persons and oneself as well. Therefore, by forgiving and reconciling with one another, we can have peace and joy with God, one another, and oneself.

May God help us understand and live the commandments according to His will.