7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2,17-18
The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy. You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow man, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."
Responsorial Psalm: 103:1-2.3-4.8,10.12-13
Response: The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (Response)
He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion. (Response)
Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (Response)
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. (Response)
Response: The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (Response)
He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion. (Response)
Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (Response)
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. (Response)
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Brothers
and sisters: Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy. Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: "He catches the wise in their own ruses," and again: "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, Paul or Apollos or Kephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:38-48
Jesus
said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. "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, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."
They should not be even considered as enemies and persecutors. (Love your enemies and pray for those…) So treat every equal (not even the distinction of friends and enemies) and do only good. St. Paul summarized this beautifully in Rom 12:21 saying overcome evil by doing good. It is this attitude that makes one a perfect man. ‘So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect’ is Matthew’s way of saying to his church to do only good and to treat everyone equally through prayers and blessings.
Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
‘Offer no resistance to one who is evil’. This statement of Jesus makes any reader to reflect. But this is not a passive resistance. He is not telling his listener to be inactive. Jesus’ proposal to the listener is something different. He is telling them to be proactive. Jesus is telling them to be positive. His followers should do only good. Whatever be the evil done by the opponent, the followers of Jesus do only good. The actions of the followers should make the opponents to feel ashamed. They should be made to reflect.They should not be even considered as enemies and persecutors. (Love your enemies and pray for those…) So treat every equal (not even the distinction of friends and enemies) and do only good. St. Paul summarized this beautifully in Rom 12:21 saying overcome evil by doing good. It is this attitude that makes one a perfect man. ‘So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect’ is Matthew’s way of saying to his church to do only good and to treat everyone equally through prayers and blessings.
