The true identity of those redeemed by Christ
Readings: 1st: 1 Sam 26:2,
7-9, 12-23; Ps 103; 2nd: I Cor 15:45-49; Gosp: Lk
6:27-38
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, one of the
problems we see among Christians is the inability to remain faithful to the
Christian identity in words and in actions. It appears many Christians are forgetting
those distinguishing
qualities which Christians are known for. In the Acts of the Apostles, the people
Antioch identified the follows of Christ by the way they acted in the society and
the way treated themselves. It has, however, become difficult for present day
Christians to distinguish themselves from those who don’t know Christ. Often, many
Christians are at the forefront of many unchristian behaviours in the world. It
has also been noticed that many Christians join in the promotion of inhuman and
anti-life policies, as well as the promotion of all manner of evil and sinful
practices in the world. Some Christians support their unholy actions in the
society with the argument that the church and the state must be separated. The
people who hold on to this argument, however, refuse to understand that the
teachings of the church are solidly supported by moral laws and natural laws and,
as such, are for the wellbeing of the society.
To draw our attention to the difference that should
exist between the lives of those who have accepted Christ and the lives of
those who are not yet Christians, the church presents us the beautiful readings
of this Sunday. Through these readings, the church reminds us of the essential
virtues and elements of the Christian life. They include mercy and compassion,
love of God and neighbour, self-control and appreciation of values, moral
responsibility, awareness of sin and the sense of the sacred.
In the second reading of today, St Paul made a
beautiful comparison between Christ and Adam. According to Paul, there should
be a progression from the type of life received from Adam to the life received
from Christ by those who have been redeemed through baptism in Christ. So, in
this reading, St Paul is calling for a significant difference between the
attitudes of those who have accepted Christ and those who have not accepted
Christ. Those who are not Christians are still tied to things that are below,
that is, to the dust, but those who have been redeemed by Christ have been
elevated by a life-giving spirit, they are to look towards heaven – to things
that are above. He said, “As was the man of dust (Adam), so are those who are
of the dust; and as is the man of heaven (Christ), so are those who are of
heaven.”
Earlier on, St Paul had informed Christians
that anyone who have been baptized in Christ have become a new creature, the
old life has passed away, and the new life has begun. In many places St Paul
made his audience to understand that the life of those in Christ have been won
by grace, unlike those who are still living under the bondage of the law and
the old life of sin.
In the gospel of today, Jesus gave us a
beautiful sermon on the essential qualities that should be the identity - the
differential factor - of those who are Christians. He said, “But to you
who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless
those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If
someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes
your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.” So, Christ is saying that
while the lives of non-Christians are often guided by vengeance and retributive
justice, the life of Christians should rather reflect love, forgiveness, mercy,
and compassion. No Christian should repay evil for evil because vengeance is
God’s.
Furthermore, Christ instructed
that the lives of Christians should reflect generosity to everyone, love to
everyone, especially to those who do not merit their love. Christians are not
to pass judgement on people nor condemn people. He said, “Give to everyone who
asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back…Do not
judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be
condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Dear friends, these virtues
required by Christ for every Christian are difficult to live out; some people
may see them as impossible, but Christ demonstrated how possible they are by
being an example for us on the cross. Therefore, whenever we look at the Cross and
any time we do the sign of the Cross, we are reminded that the Christian life
demanded by Christ is very possible.
The first reading of today also
showed us the possibility of living the type of life required by Christ. In
this reading, David had every opportunity to end his sorrows by killing his
enemy, Saul, but he refused to yield to vengeance, even when his friend urged
him to do it. While David represented that elevated life which every Christian
should live, Saul represented that low life of the unchristian mind which seeks
to kill its enemy.
Dear friends, the church invites us to emulate
what David did in the first reading. We should stop looking for
opportunities to revenge against our offenders. We should stop praying for opportunities
to inflict pain on our offenders. We must not bow to pressures from
circumstances or from our colleagues to do evil. This is because, two wrongs
can never make one right. Reprisal attack or revenge may hurt one even more
than it will hurt one’s offender. But Forgiveness heals all wounds and wipes
all scars away.
Let us, therefore, pray in this Holy
Mass to remain faithful to our identity as Christians, to remain steadfast to
that type of life required of us by Christ.
Peace be with you. Happy Sunday.
Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima
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