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6th Sunday in Ordinary Time A12 February 2017

In preparation for this Sunday’s LiturgyAs aid in focusing our homilies and sharing

Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

1st Reading: Sirach 15:15-20

15 If you choose you can keep the commandments; it is loyalty to do his will. 16 There are set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. 17 Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him. 18 Immense is the wisdom of the LORD; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. 19 The eyes of God see all he has made; he understands man's every deed. 20 No man does he command to sin, to none does he give strength for lies.

The focus is on making wise choices (decisions).

1st Reading: Sirach 15:15-20 15 If you choose you

can keep the commandments; it is loyalty to do his will. 16 There are set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. 17 Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him. 18 Immense is the wisdom of the LORD; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. 19 The eyes of God see all he has made; he understands man's every deed. 20 No man does he command to sin, to none does he give strength for lies.

Commentary The reading comes from the Wisdom

Writings. It teaches us how to be wise. V.15 says that if we so desire / decide, we

can obey God’s commands. Obedience is a sign of loyalty to God.

V.16 teaches us about two opposite choices. Whenever we choose, we always exert tremendous effort.

In v.17, we are faced with two realities: life and death. We can have life, if we choose life.

Vv.18-20 describe God’s wisdom: Immense, v.18 Powerful and sees everything. V.18 Sees all, understands our deeds, v.19 Does not make you sin, tell lies, v.20

Reflections on the 1st Reading It is our decision to be wise. In life, we are always confronted to make a choice. If we are in our right mind and senses, we make

wise decisions. We do not decide to go for evil. God’s laws help us to decide. How do you make decisions, like getting married,

going abroad, entering a convent, investing a lot of money?

Do you seek counsel?

Resp. Ps 119:1-2. 4-5. 17-18. 33-34 R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

1 Blessed are they whose way is blameless,who walk in the law of the LORD.2 Blessed are they who observe his decrees,who seek him with all their heart.

4 You have commanded that your preceptsbe diligently kept.5 Oh, that I might be firm in the waysof keeping your statutes!

17 Be good to your servant, that I may liveand keep your words.18 Open my eyes, that I may considerthe wonders of your law.

33 Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes,that I may exactly observe them.34 Give me discernment, that I may observe your lawand keep it with all my heart.

Resp. Ps 119:1-2. 4-5. 17-18. 33-34 R. (1b) Blessed are they who

follow the law of the Lord!

1 Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.2 Blessed are they who observe his decrees,who seek him with all their heart.

4 You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept.5 Oh, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes!

17 Be good to your servant, that I may live and keep your words.18 Open my eyes, that I may considerthe wonders of your law.

33 Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes,that I may exactly observe them.34 Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.

Commentary The psalm is classified as wisdom

psalm. V.1 extols those who keep God’s

commands. They are happy. V.2 says the same to those who

seek him (pray to him for guidance). In v.4, the psalmist is aware that

God wants his precepts to be followed.

In v.5, the psalmist prays that he may be strong in following God’s commands.

In vv.17-18, the psalmist prays to God to show favor to him, to keep his words and law.

In vv.33-34, the psalmist prays for guidance and discernment (good judgment) that he may keep the law.

Reflections on the Psalm The psalm teaches us what to pray for:

guidance and strength, to keep God’s laws. We, Christians, rather pray for favors like landing a

good job, good health, etc. We seldom pray that we may do what is right and

just. No wonder, even if we pray a lot or go to mass

everyday, we can violate God’s laws that easy. The content of our prayers must exhibit that we are

serious in keeping God’s laws. If we have high moral standards, it is highly possible

to land a good job and accomplish things without fouling up.

2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 6 There is, to be sure, a certain wisdom which we

express among the spiritually mature. It is not a wisdom of this age, however, nor of the rulers of this age who are men headed for destruction. 7 No, what we utter is God's wisdom: a mysterious, a hidden wisdom. God planned it before all ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age knew the mystery; if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 Of this wisdom it is written: “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love him.” 10 Yet God has revealed this wisdom to us through the Spirit. The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the deep things of God.

The focus is on divine wisdom.

2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 6 There is, to be sure, a

certain wisdom which we express among the spiritually mature. It is not a wisdom of this age, however, nor of the rulers of this age who are men headed for destruction. 7 No, what we utter is God's wisdom: a mysterious, a hidden wisdom. God planned it before all ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age knew the mystery; if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 Of this wisdom it is written: “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love him.” 10 Yet God has revealed this wisdom to us through the Spirit. The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the deep things of God.

Commentary St. Paul talks about God’s wisdom. In v.6, Paul clarifies the kind of wisdom he

is talking about: Wisdom for the spiritually mature Not a wisdom of this age or corrupt rulers

In v.7, Paul describes it as: mysterious, hidden It was there before time. It is destined for our

glory. In v.8, Paul goes back to v.6. The rulers of

this age were not aware of it. A sign that they were not aware:

they crucified Christ. In v.9, God intends this wisdom for those

who love God, not just for anyone. In v.10, Paul says that we, Christians, have

known this wisdom. Lucky are we! We have known it through the Spirit that

scrutinizes everything.

Reflections on the 2nd Reading We should possess God’s wisdom. We can have it if we love him. God’s wisdom is not free for all, not that cheap. It is something that is destined for us, lovers of

God, for our glory. Meaning, this wisdom will accompany us to

heaven. Wisdom of this earth, like having business and

political acumen, knowing a lot of data and information, tactics and strategies, is something else.

Gospel Reading: Mt 5:17-37 or 5:20-22a. 27-28. 33-34a. 37

20 Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you, unless your holiness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of God.

21 "You have heard the commandment imposed on your ancestors, 'You shall not commit murder; every murderer will be liable to judgment.‘ 22 What I say to you is: whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.

27 "You have heard the commandment, 'You shall not commit adultery.‘ 28 What I say to you is: anyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his thoughts.

33 “You have heard the commandment imposed on your forefathers: 'Do not take a false oath, rather, make good to the Lord all your pledges.‘ 34 What I tell you is: do not swear at all; 37 Say, 'Yes' when you mean 'Yes,' and 'No' when you mean 'No.' Anything beyond that is from the evil one.

The focus is on holiness.

Gospel Reading: Mt 5:17-37 or 5:20-22a. 27-28. 33-34a. 37

20 Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you, unless your holiness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of God.

21 "You have heard the commandment imposed on your ancestors, 'You shall not commit murder; every murderer will be liable to judgment.‘ 22 What I say to you is: whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.

27 "You have heard the commandment, 'You shall not commit adultery.‘ 28 What I say to you is: anyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his thoughts.

33 “You have heard the commandment imposed on your forefathers: 'Do not take a false oath, rather, make good to the Lord all your pledges.‘ 34 What I tell you is: do not swear at all; 37 Say, 'Yes' when you mean 'Yes,' and 'No' when you mean 'No.' Anything beyond that is from the evil one.

Commentary V.20 requires Christians to be more holy

than the Scribes and Pharisees to enter heaven.

To be more righteous is to do more than what is prescribed in the law.

V.21 requires Christians not to be angry. Before it was OK to be angry as long as you do not kill the person.

V.27 requires Christians not to look at other people (opposite sex) lustfully. Before it was OK to do it as long as you don’t commit adultery with the person.

V.33 requires Christians not to take false oaths or mindlessly doing it.

V.34 requires Christians to be straightforward in their commitments.

Yes should mean Yes. No should mean No.

Christians should not give mixed signals.

Reflections on the Gospel Christians should not be minimalistic in their

responses to God’s challenges. They should not be too legalistic in their

observance of the law. They should do more. Christians should operate on a higher level of

awareness and sensitivity. To be holy, Christians must be creative.

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm

The first reading exhorts us to be wise. We make God’s laws criteria in making decisions.

The psalm encourages us to pray for wisdom that we may do only what is right.

The second reading exhorts us to work for God’s wisdom, not for human wisdom.

The gospel reading exhorts us to be holy, to practice faith to the maximum.

We can focus our homilies and sharing on being holy. Wisdom is a path to holiness.

How to develop your homily / sharing

Our goal in life is to become holy. We cannot go to heaven if we are not holy. Religious practices should help us to become

holy. We are missing the most important point of

our religion if we do not understand what holiness is all about.

The readings should teach us how to be holy.

The first reading teaches us that holiness is being wise, keeping God’s commandment.

We see it to that whatever we do, whatever we decide conforms to God’s laws. This is wisdom.

We don’t violate any of his commandments. We make wrong decisions if we set aside

God’s laws in the process. There is no wisdom in following your own

instincts.

The second reading teaches us that we must seek God’s wisdom (to be holy).

We are not here only to be informed, to read newspapers, or, to be taught how to make a living.

We must, first of all, set our hearts and minds to God’s grace (wisdom) that will lead us to heaven.

If we are only after our material needs and immediate gratification, we cannot be holy.

We should seek higher values. That is holiness.

The gospel reading teaches us that we should do more than just mechanically conforming to God’s laws or man’s interpretations.

To be holy is to pay attention to God’s heart, to exercise utmost sensitivity.

Christianity is not a preoccupation of rules, regulations and rituals.

It is more than that. It is how we use our hearts when doing our jobs

and dealing with our brothers and sisters.

We may not be inflicting physical violence on others, but deep in our hearts, we may be suspecting them to be thieves, blaming them for our woes,

jealous of them, making them as sex objects, or instruments of enriching ourselves.

We cannot be holy, or come closer to God if we have no proper attitude towards our neighbors.

Holiness is establishing good relationships with God and with others.

We cannot be holy if we harbor anger at our parents, brothers, sisters, or officemates.

The religious organizations or ministries in the church are supposed to help us become holy.

But if they become occasions for sins (like gossiping, competing for posts, politicking, slandering, talking against one another, against the church, against the priests, spreading lies, rumors and speculations), they should be demolished.

It is hard to be holy if there is too much negative energy and bad faith in our ranks.

The Document of Vatican II (LG, 40) defines holiness as: fullness of Christian life and perfection of charity.

We must learn fully the teachings of Christ, in the Bible and in the Church. We cannot be holy according to Christ’s terms, if

we are ignorant of him and of his Church. (No wisdom)

We must exercise utmost charity in our ranks. Knowledge of the Bible and of our faith, all those

formations are useless if we lack charity and respect.

Those who lack charity bulldoze, bully people to get what they want use abusive language (uncouth) delay, always late in coming do not give a single penny or centavo to the church (stingy) don’t pay their dues to their organizations enjoy parties without paying anything (riders) don’t share in the responsibilities/burdens

They should not be allowed to lead our committees or ministries. They have attitude problems. They are not holy.

Are you holy?

The eucharist is the sacrament that makes us holy.

The eucharist is for those who keep God’s words and who struggle to be holy.

The eucharist is God’s wisdom that leads us to heaven.

Our Context of Sin and Grace Minimalistic Lawlessness in the church

(anything goes) Does not follow liturgical

laws or too much concern Robot Christians, follow

orders, not knowing why Schizophrenic Christians

(very tender and loving to their images and statues, but cruel to their brethren)

Making fun of old people Uncharitable

Keeps the rules of his/her organization

God-fearing people Bible Study, Bible Sharing Willing to learn who Christ

is through the Scriptures and Theology

Helps in gift-giving, distribution of relief goods

Spirituality of Stewardship Gives tithes Sends children to school

Suggested Songs Happy is the Man Happy the Man Beatitudes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkUOyrXUhQc

Dear brothers and sisters,

We cannot be holy if we are mediocre and minimalistic.

Fr. Cielo