Fresh Dew Media

 7^th Sunday, Year C: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: The true identity of those redeemed by Christ

Readings: 1 Sam 26:2, 7-9, 12-23; I Cor 15:45-49; Lk 6:27-38

 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, one of the problems we see among many Christians is the inability to remain faithful to the Christian identity in words and in actions. It appears many Christians are forgetting the distinguishing qualities that Christians are known for. In the Acts of the Apostles, the people of Antioch identified the followers of Christ by the way they acted in society and the way they 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 the promotion of many unchristian behaviours in the world. For example, 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 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 and natural laws and, as such, are for the well-being 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. 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 has been baptized in Christ has 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 who are 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 lives 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 and 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 anytime 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 that every Christian should live, Saul represented that low life of the unchristian mind that 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 take 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. A reprisal attack or revenge may hurt one even more than it will hurt one’s offender. But forgiveness heals all wounds and wipes all tears away.

Let us, therefore, pray in today’s 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