6th Sunday in ordinary time year A

                                                    6th Sunday in ordinary time year A

• Readings: Sirach 15:15-20 | Psalm 119 | 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 | Matthew 5:17-37

                                        “I have not come to abolish but to fulfil”.

Dear brothers and sisters, this is a homily for 6th Sunday in ordinary time year A. From the gospel reading, we continue reading from the sermon on the mountain. “I have not come to abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfil them”, indeed this statement from Jesus forms part and parcel of our meditation on this 6th Sunday in ordinary time year A. However, one may wonder and ask; How and in which capacity does Jesus Christ fulfil the law and the prophets? What and How are the impacts of Jesus’ fulfilment of the law and the prophets have in our Christian life today?

On this 6th Sunday in Ordinary time year A, we continue to read the three-parts of instruction by Jesus Christ concerning the way of life in the kingdom of Heaven. On this Sunday, we read part one which concerns the law, part two concerns worship and religious practices such as the Lord’s prayer and finally part three concerns Trust in God and the service to our brothers and sisters whom we live with here on earth. As I mentioned above, on this 6th Sunday, we are reading part one of Jesus’ instruction that concerns the law. By the way, When Matthew mentions the law and the prophets, it means the whole scripture.

How does Jesus fulfil the law and the prophets?

1. The law points to what to do as good but Christ himself is the good and helps us to do good in our life. He died for us to save us, so that we can inherit eternal life in heaven. Hence he fulfils the law by his way of life, his public ministry and what he taught, therefore nothing is contradictory in his life.

2. Jesus fulfils what the prophets talked about in the old testament such as the messiah who would come to save human kind, the lamb of God that will be crucified, die and resurrect from the dead. All these finds fufillment in Jesus christ. Finally,

3. Moses was a prophet in the Old testament, but in the new testament, Jesus as the new Moses, climbs the mountain as seen from the gospel passage to teach and remind the people the purpose and the spirit of the law so they can be liberated from the slavery of original sin.

What is the impact of Jesus’ fulfilment of the law and the prophets to us today?

In his instructions during the sermon on the mountain, Jesus speaks of the purpose of the law more particularly the 10 commandments. By the way, How many of us know the 10 commandments? Some may just mention the 5th or 7th commandment and yet they don’t know what it is about. I remember a priest who shared with me his experience while in the interview room seeking the visa to travel to one of the European countries. He was asked, “are you a priest”? He answered yes, I am. They asked him, “What is the relationship between the 6th commandment and the 9th Commandment in the life of a Christian?” He was very confused, and he had to book for another interview the following year. If it was you, what would you have answered?

In fact, Jesus in his instructions today points out two things.

1. The relationship between disciples in the community of believers

2. What to do in case the relationship is broken.

Let us briefly look at the relationship between disciples in the community of believers. Jesus in his instruction and teaching during the sermon on the mountain invokes the commandments that concern the relationship between disciples. For example, he talked of Murder and Adultery. Of course he opts to explain the origin of such acts by pointing out that ‘it is said you shall not commit murder’ but I say to you whoever is angry with his brother or sister have already committed murder. Here Jesus condemns even lustful looks. An attitude of a person sometimes determines what one does in reality. The commandments are to help or shape our life towards sanctity and not to burden us in any way.

The second aspect that Jesus talks and gives an example of what to do when there is a no-good relationship between disciples is to do reconciliation and forgiveness. These are two important vocabularies that should be present in our families, in our places of work and in our world today. In the gospel passage, Jesus talks of if one is approaching the Altar to give offering and remembers that he is not in good terms with his brother or sister, one is to abandon everything and seek reconciliation and forgiveness first. Reconciliation and forgiveness makes families to stand today, forgiveness makes a priest to do what he does today, forgiveness makes you to be who you are today because God did not give us two things namely to Revenge and to judge others, we are called to embrace this forgiveness in our religious communities, forgiveness in our parishes and forgiveness in our families. Moreover, there are 3 benefits of forgiveness.

1. It makes one who forgive to be free. For example, when Nelson Mandela left prison, they asked him what he would do with those who imprisoned him, he said “ I forgive them, because if I don’t forgive them, I will imprison my life”. Forgiveness liberates one because if you don’t, you will even change your contacts, change routes or migrate because it will hard for you to forgive.

2. Forgiveness brings Grace in to your life and God will forgive your sins too. Finally,

3. Forgiveness brings understanding, more collaborations and more focus in one’s life.

To conclude, on this 6th Sunday in ordinary time year A, we are invited co-exist in peace with one another, reconcile and forgive one another as God forgives us our sins. AMEN.

HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY!!!!!