HOMILY SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE A FEB 23, 2020

HOMILY   SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME   CYCLE A      FEB 23, 2020

          As Americans, and especially as Texans, we are doers.  We like to get things done.  We want to achieve and accomplish.

          But, perhaps unfortunately, our readings today are more existential.  They talk about “being” rather than “doing.”   And that makes me at least, and perhaps you, a little uneasy.

          In the first reading we heard, “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.”

And in the Gospel Jesus instructs us, “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

          Be holy.  Be perfect.  That is a pretty high bar.  Seems to me we are being set up to fail. 

          Why even try?  Well, first of all, we were chosen for this.  This was not our choice, but it was chosen for us to be God’s own children.   Most of us did not choose to be Baptized.  Even if we did, it was in response to a call.  God’s initiative always comes first.

          In any case, we are called to try our best to do this seemingly impossible thing:  be holy.  Be perfect.

          How are we ever going to do that?  It requires being counter-cultural.  The culture teaches us to look out for number one, to grab all we can get, to take advantage of others when we can, to lie, cheat and steal if necessary.

          The Gospel teaches us just the opposite.  “Give to the one who asks of you…”   “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”      That is hardly the way of the world.

          Be holy.   Be perfect.  We can not do this on our own.  We need God’s grace; we need the power of the Holy Spirit to live such a radically different way.

          Fortunately, we have a great role model in Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus.  Mary, under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, opened herself fully to God’s Will for her.  She was holy.  She was perfect.  And she is an inspiration for us.

          In the Hail Mary prayer we ask her to pray for us.  And she does.  She not only gives us an example of openness to God’s Will, she actively encourages us and supports us in opening ourselves more and more to God’s call.

          Maybe that call is to forgive a sibling or neighbor or co-worker.  Maybe that call is to be more generous with time, talent and treasure for the poor, for the work of the church, for the building up of civil society.   Maybe that call is to serve as a priest, or woman religious, or permanent deacon, or a medical professional in a poorer community, or a year as a volunteer, or with St. Vincent de Paul or Thursday Outreach, or tutoring in an after-school program, or helping with children’s religious ed and faith formation.  Maybe it is a call to spend more time in prayer. 

          This call to be holy, to be perfect is very timely.   Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  This is the perfect time to hear this challenge and respond to it whole heartedly.  Be holy.  Be perfect.

          God bless.