HOMILY FOR THE 6TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary the Time Year A

Sirach 15:15-20; Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37.

Theme: Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets

The first reading underscores that God is neither responsible for sin nor encourages or compels anyone to commit sin. Committing sin is out of our free will. Sirach admonishes us to keep God's commandments because if we do, "they will save us; if we trust in God, we too shall live" (Sir.15:15). It is our choice to choose life or death, good or evil. Whatever we choose will be given to us.

The second reading speaks of God's wisdom, which is so different from human wisdom. To trust in God and to live can be said to be that secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification.

Concerning God's commandments, Jesus, in today's Gospel, says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them" (Matt.5:17). He restores, perfects, and raises the precepts of the Old Testament to a higher order. He goes to the heart of what the old commandment demands. His emphasis is on mercy, not legalistic minutiae, on far-reaching love, not destructive petty details: and on positive commitment, not prohibitions. He came to give the old law flesh and all the riches the law had originally. Jesus wanted a conversion of heart that goes deeper than any merely external observance of laws.

In today's Gospel, after pointing out the correct spirit of the Law, Jesus gives four out of many possible examples of where his more demanding way of life applies: anger, adultery, divorce and oath.

Concerning anger, with Jesus' interpretation, whoever is angry with another would answer for it before the court. Jesus said that one did not have to go so far as to kill someone before appearing before the court. It was enough that one was angry with one's neighbour for that person to appear before the court. If one even has as much called his neighbour "fool," that person would answer for it, not just before the court, but in hell itself. Jesus, therefore, forbids the anger that broods, refuses to be subdued, and seeks revenge. To the degree of anger, extending even to thoughts, there are corresponding degrees of punishment.

The next was adultery. Previously, one was believed to have committed adultery if one did it. But Jesus said that thinking about it, by looking lustfully at a woman, already amounted to adultery.

Concerning divorce, the former interpretation of the law gave license to a husband to dismiss his wife and marry another. Jesus said that license has been revoked. Husbands as well as wives had to remain faithful to each other until death did them apart.

Lastly, Jesus focuses on oaths, the supreme obligation to tell the truth. Too often, people used sacred words, even the name of God, in an unwarranted way and often to bolster their untruth. In Jesus' new ethics, truthfulness is assured by the honesty and inner integrity of persons. If we are recognised as being that way, our words should be our bond. Our yes must be yes, and our no, must be no.

That was the new order that Jesus laid down for his followers. They were required to go above and beyond the level of virtue of the scribes and the Pharisees. We must remember that the scribes and the Pharisees were the religious leaders in Palestine at that time. People looked up to them for guidance and example on how best to live the law and the Prophets. Jesus then said that his own followers would have to go even further than the scribes and the Pharisees in their observance of the Law and the Prophets.

The truth about the fulfilment of the old law by Jesus today is that the righteousness that the kingdom as interpreted in the new law covers not only open or overt behaviour but also inner desires and motives. God's demand for obedience is absolute and total. He claims the whole person in the entirety of his or her relations.

It is obeying these teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ in today's Gospel and teaches others to obey them that will make us great in the kingdom of heaven.

May God grant us the grace to strive for that, which will make us great in His kingdom through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday to you all