HOMILY FOR THE 7TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.

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Leviticus 19:1-2. 17-18; Psalm 103:1-4, 8,10,12-13; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48.

“BE HOLY!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      Reflecting on the demands of our world and its attendant distractions. The strong urge to make ends meet, to be popular, to be in everyone’s good book, to gain earthly approval, etc., looking at all these, one may wonder if holiness is attainable? If it is possible to live in this world of sin and yet be holy?

·      The readings of today make a case for the holiness of life. Choosing to be Christian means choosing to be holy. A Christian is one called to be like Christ. If Christ is holy, then Christians ought to be holy.

·      God has called each of us to the holiness of life. This life is not an impossibility. If God has demanded the holiness of life, then it is possible to achieve it. 

·      In the first reading (Leviticus 19:1-2. 17-18), the Lord commanded Moses to instruct the people of Israel, “You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God is holy.” (Lev. 19:2) This call for holiness is not just for the people of Israel but for all children of God. 

·      Friends in Christ, we cannot be aspiring towards the holiness of life and not be prepared to do things differently. We must remember that “we are a chosen race, a people set apart.” (1 Pet. 2:9) To be set apart means that we are called to be different.

·      what does it mean to be holy? The Hebrew word for ‘holy’ is ‘Kadosh’ which literally means ‘different from’. Christians are called to be consistently and positively different. All may appear to be involved in stealing, cheating, deceit, gossiping, backbiting, fornication, adultery, etc. but the Christian is always called to be different and holy.

·      If we want to be holy, God gives us prescriptions of holiness that is “we must not bear the hatred of any kind in our hearts” because anger is a dangerous vice that can destroy the joy of the moment and the joy of the future. Hence, we must find amicable ways of settling our differences and misunderstandings. In doing this, we must learn to do things differently from the way the world does her thing.

·      The holiness of life does not just stop at what we do, it also includes how we relate with and treat people around us. Holiness means love. To love the other unconditionally as Christ would do. We must be ready to forgive one another. To live in peace and harmony.

·      In the second reading (1 Corinthians 3:16-23), St. Paul reminds us that added to the demand for holiness of life, we are also reminded that we are temples of God, and the spirit of God dwells in us.

·      Dearly beloved, as harbingers of God’s spirit, we must let that spirit of God lead in our lives. The consciousness that we are the temple of God’s glory should challenge us to live in a certain way that glorifies God.

·      When we do not treat people well, when we sin or lead others astray, we anger the spirit of God in us. We by extension are destroying the temple of God which is domiciled in our souls. God, who is holiness, personified cannot dwell in unrighteousness. Hence, righteousness begets righteousness.

·      The God who has called us to holiness is an all-knowing and omniscient God. we cannot outsmart God. sometimes as humans, we feel that we have gained enough knowledge and wisdom to be able to outsmart God but that is not possible because the wisdom of man is but foolishness in the sight of God.

·      The gospel reading (Matthew 5:38-48) gives the call to holiness a more practical outlook. While the world demands vengeance – an eye for an eye, God calls us to forgive one another. We must be ready to turn the other cheek to those who strike us.

·      My dear brothers and sisters, this call to holiness is a call to perfection. A call to be perfect just as our heavenly father is perfect (Matt. 4:48). We must realise that we are imperfect beings called to perfection. Hence, we may find ourselves making mistakes and falling into sin, and we may occasionally dishonour ourselves and God, but that does not make holiness impossible but rather possible because the Psalmist assures us that “the Lord is compassion and love” (Ps. 102:8).

·      If we fall into sin, if we break our promises, we must run to God in perfect contrition in the sacrament of reconciliation and he will restore us to the original holiness for which he created us. Holiness is a daily and constant struggle; we must keep at it and refuse to be distracted.

·      We pray today, that the Lord will give us the enabling grace to realise that holiness is possible and that is what we are all called to, so that we may desire it and work towards it every day of our lives.

·      May the Lord bless his word in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·      Happy Sunday!!!

 

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