February 20, 2011: Gospel Reflection I

Matthew 5: 33-48

 In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges the contemporary notions of fairness and justice (just like last Sunday) by inviting his followers to choose the radical and self-sacrificing love that is summed up in his words and example. All laws exist to help people grow closer in their relationship with the God of Love and so if laws were being used to fragment or limit love then they needed to be replaced. Jesus says: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. Jesus goes so far as to say that “if someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well”.

These are not popular teachings and they do not seem to be just or fair. Yet using the life of Jesus as the paradigm for justice we are called to a more excellent way. It was not just or fair according to our human standards for God to be crucified and die for us, yet God’s action in our world shows us that God is not interested in ‘getting even’ but in lavishing his love upon us. 

We are called to “be perfect as [our] heavenly Father is perfect” by loving everyone God has placed in our lives, even those who we would prefer not to love! This is our call as followers of Jesus: to take the love that is freely and undeservedly given to us and give it to others even though it sometimes means sacrifice and humility. Oftentimes this requires us to embrace forgiveness in order to let go of our hurts and defenses that get in the way of loving.

St. Therese of Lisieux provides one of the best and most relatable models of this in her reflections on the ‘Little Way’. She wrote and modeled that loving others as God loves does not require grandeur but humility, persistently doing little things with love. Her reflections are a must read!