DISCIPLESHIP: GOING EXTRA MILE

HOMILY FOR 6TH SUNDAY OF YEAR A

DISCIPLESHIP: GOING EXTRA MILE

R1: Sir 15: 15-20

R2: 1 Cor 2: 6 - 10

Gospel: Mt 5:17 - 37

Today Jesus continues with the Sermon on the Mount. Very repeatedly today Jesus said; “You have heard how it was said…. But I say to you…! This statement indicates the intention of Jesus preaching today. 

One may be wondering if Jesus by this statement is intending to make a separation from what has been taught by the prophets,  but he declared, I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Mt 5:17). Notwithstanding, Jesus teaching today is meant for a selected few; his disciples (Christians). The intention of his teaching today is to challenge the disciples not to remain in the ordinary level of their religiosity but to go an extra mile in their followership. Hence, he said, if your  virtue does not go deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter into the kingdom of God (Mt 5:20).

How do the scribes and Pharisees live, why does Jesus expect the uprightness of his followers to go beyond that of scribes and the Pharisees? Scripture made us understand that these people teach a different thing while their actions communicate different things. They never practice what they preach, rather they lay boardings on the people which they themselves are not willing to lift (Mt 23:13,15,23,25,27).

Therefore, Jesus challenges our actions so that  we may not only avoid evil but to do good for in this lies the strength of Christian. These extended beatitudes are aimed at drawing us closer to God as well as our neighbour. While we strive to avoid evil and remain in good relationship with God, we are to totally refrain from those acts that are capable of leading us to sin.

Unlike the scribes and Pharisees, these are the steps  Jesus wants us to adopt. (1). Since people are most times influenced by what they hear and are taught, we must watch against misleading others and teaching them the wrong thing for acts like this can send one to hell. (2). Against the commandment not to kill, Jesus warns us not to be angry at all or to be in control of our anger. It is anger that can push one to take another’s life. (3). About forgiveness, Jesus wants the offended to make the first move towards reconciliation and not just to wait for the offender to make the first move. This is following his example, for not minding that we have sinned against God, He took the first step by sending His Son to come and reconcile us with God. (4). Against adultery, we must be masters of our looks. It is what we look at that pushes us to  acts that are adulterous. Build a responsible friendship and relationship that does not make the other an object to be exploited instead. 

Dear friends, our daily living in the world places us on the crossroad of choice, either to choose the way of God and have life or away from God and die away. These beatitudes present before us the way we should follow so that we shall have life in God. Let us avoid being logical like the pagans who see the commandments of God as what is outdated. 

Homily by:

*Rev Fr Chukwuemeka Vincent Livinus, SMMM*