OPENNESS TO NEW TEACHINGS

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

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Many a time we complain about the way things are today and compare them with a fanciful golden era of the past. Many people tend to talk about ‘the good old days’ without necessarily being open to the exciting times in which we live. In our nostalgic daydreams, we may forget to focus upon the positives, novelties and fresh perspectives of the present moment. Yes, some of the old times were good - no one doubts that - but the present-day also has many pluses for us to appreciate and enjoy.

Today’s Gospel (Matt. 5:17-37) is a very long one, isn’t it. It can be understood as a single unit only when we realize that Christ was upgrading teachings that did not blot out the original teachings of the Law but, rather, made them more relevant to his contemporaries and better understood and applied by them. People initially viewed Jesus as someone teaching the opposite of what their forefathers believed, taught and lived-out. They mistakenly thought he taught in order to abolish the Law and the Prophets, and to inaugurate his own totally new teachings. Jesus corrects this false impression. He states unequivocally: do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets. I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. This fulfilment entails a righteousness that goes even deeper than that of the law-abiding Pharisees. Jesus exalted the importance of adhering to God’s Law. Why? Because God’s Law makes for order and for peace. Anyone who works sincerely to create order and peace in the world is considered great in heaven.  What Jesus was emphasising was the spirit of the Law that was already in operation. In his teachings, Christ distinguished meticulously between the letter of the Law and the spirit of the Law. He was certainly not advocating that the Law be abolished or superseded. 

1. It was said to the men of old: you will not kill... (letter, v.21). I now say to you: anyone who is angry with his brother is liable to judgement... (spirit; vv. 22-26). This teaching warns us against the sin of Anger. Unjustifiable anger is a Deadly Sin that has the capacity to lead us all the way to murder. Whenever we place ourselves under the upgraded teaching of Jesus, we purposefully quench anger before it can overwhelm us, and we make a leap to a mature sense of peace and order.

2. You have heard that it was said: do not commit adultery (letter; v.27). I now say to you: everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart... (spirit; vv. 28-30). This warns us against the sin of Lust. Lust is a Deadly Sin that has the capacity to lead us to commit adultery and to fornicate. Whenever we place ourselves under the upgraded teaching of Jesus, we purposefully quench all impure thoughts, and make a leap to genuine love and community spirit.

3. Again, you have heard that it was said to the men of old: you shall not swear falsely... (letter; v.33). I now say to you: do not swear at all... (spirit; vv. 34-37). This warns us against the sin of Pride. Pride is a Deadly Sin that has the capacity to lead us deeply into lying, repeated dishonesty and cultivated insincerity. Whenever we place ourselves under the upgraded teaching of Jesus, we purposefully quench the cause of these prideful sins, and make a leap to truthfulness, honesty and sincerity.

The First Reading (Sirach 15:15-20) represents a call to those of us who desire salvation to keep the Commandments of the Lord. Keeping the dictates of the Lord satisfactorily involves us in gaining a proper understanding of the Law, and in living by it both in letter and in spirit. We have to shed the old skin of sin in order to reveal the new one of grace. Jesus, who is the Way, has released us from the chains of the unwieldy and burdensome written law so that we live now in the new life of the spirit (cf. Romans 7:6). In the Second Reading (1 Cor 2: 6-10) St. Paul deals with his vision of God. What God has in store for each one of us surpasses the capacity of ordinary human intelligence. To appreciate it requires a hidden wisdom communicated only through the gift of the Spirit. What a consoling message for us that is!

Let us try to explore a good way of correcting the errors of Jesus’ contemporaries regarding their super-stringent approach to the Law as handed down to them by their forefathers. A good way of personalizing and appreciating these upgraded teachings of Christ is by being open to new ways forward and positive ideas, rather than allowing ourselves to become so enslaved by our current mode of thinking that we lose sight of those perspectives of others that are valid. Whenever we bring to the light particular issues we have with other people, if we are guilty of blanking our minds from appreciating any good points they make, then we make the mistake of being a stick-in-the-mud. Being stuck doesn’t help either of us to move on; besides, it trivializes any sincere efforts on either side to resolve situations. Open-mindedness promotes understanding between people, and prevents people from taking sides and becoming entrenched. May God grant each one of us the grace of a mindset that perceives and rejoices in the teachings of Jesus, and in the ideas of our fellow-men. Amen. God bless you.