💖 HOMILY - MARCH 15 💖

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 harboring it in our hearts does us no good. Today's readings encourage us to heal from the wounds of the past by reconciling with them through love.  

The first reading places the Deuteronomistic Code before us for reflection. The emphasis of the passage is to exhort people to prompt obedience to God's commandment. 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 ratified between God and the people of Israel—on the people's part, by accepting Yahweh as their God, and on God's part, by adopting or accepting them as His own. However, Moses admonishes the people to remain faithful to God by observing His law 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 statutes or commandments of the Lord. Jesus speaks as an authoritative interpreter of the law (he can be seen as the new Moses, the lawgiver) and unfolds its deeper implications. Regarding the law of love for one's neighbor, he expands the horizon of neighborliness to a limitless level. Jesus includes, besides our loved ones, even our enemies, persecutors, and adversaries as those who should come under this norm. In other words, all must receive equal love from us, whether friend or foe. This also implies that our love will certainly not be reciprocated equally by all, but we should still continue to love. In fact, Jesus demands that the observance of the law be carried out as God Himself expects and does—He shows no partiality to anyone, whether sinner or righteous. So must our behavior be toward every person, whether friend or foe. In this way, we can observe the law and become perfect as God is perfect.  

Dear friends, 'love' is a very simple word but demands great sacrifice from us. Moses, in the first reading, reminds the people that their love for God will be proven by their observance of His commandments. Jesus explains how to abide by God's commandments in the way God the Father expects—by carrying them out as He Himself does. It is really difficult to live up to God's expectations, but this proves our love for Him. When we love someone, we try to do whatever is possible to show that love—whether by giving material things or fulfilling their expectations. These are common expressions of love for our loved ones. The same applies to our love for God; if we love Him, we will do everything possible to please Him and show our love. In this case, loving even our enemies and praying for those who persecute us will not seem strange.  

"Love for love and hatred for hatred" is a common attitude we see. Yet Jesus invites us today to respond to hatred and enmity with love and prayer. It is easy to love those who love us but difficult to love those who harm us or wish us ill. However, Jesus exhorts us to love all, just as God loves us despite our weaknesses, failures, downfalls, and victories. In this way, we can prove ourselves to be true children of God.  

Let us pray that we may remain faithful to God's commandments by carrying them out as He expects from us.