CALLED TO BE HOLY

II SUNDAY OF LENT - Genesis 12:1-4

On this second Sunday of Lent, we are presented with the calling of Abraham, who is a role model of faith to all of us. In matters of faith, that is, of establishing a relationship with God – He is the one who always takes the first step. He calls, thus entering into a relationship with us. His calling is an invitation that also implies an order: “Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you.” Answering God’s call demands leaving behind a lot of things that play an important role in our lives. Everything that may stand in the way of accepting and following God’s call must be put aside. We leave behind what we are acquainted with and step into the unknown. Abraham was ordered to go to a land that he did not know. Thus, full of uncertainties, he initiated the adventure of his life. He had to put his trust in the one who called him and move forward with hope, expecting a brighter future, even if he risked endangering everything that he had. With his calling, Abraham received a promise: he would be blessed and become a source of blessing to all nations of the earth, that is, to all those who engage in the same journey to the Promised Land. Certainly, in his heart, Abraham asked a question to which he did not know the answer: What land is God going to show me? To which land are we journeying? Like Abraham, we travel into the unknown guided only by our trust in the Lord.

In the second reading, Paul gives the purpose of God’s calling: God “called us to be holy”. Holiness is the promised land in which we will share the glory of Jesus’ victory over death, proclaiming life and immortality (2 Tim 1:8-10).

In the gospel, Jesus’ transfiguration before the three chosen disciples reveals the Promised Land that is the object of our journey, that is, heaven. There we will be at home and find rest, having all our deepest desires for life and happiness fulfilled. As we climb the mountain, we feel the hardships of the journey. That’s why we need moments like those of Peter, James and John, in which God fills our hearts with joy and hope. Strengthened by God’s grace and love, we may be ready to listen to Jesus’ word and follow him, carrying the cross to Calvary. To reach the victory of resurrection, we must pass through suffering and death with Christ.

“This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.” (Mt 17:1-9)

A PURE HEART CREATE FOR ME, O GOD

I SUNDAY OF LENT - Matthew 4:1-11

We begin Lent being challenged to have a good look at ourselves, our world and humanity in general. In his Lenten message, Pope Leo invites us “to place the mystery of God back in the centre of our lives”. To do that, we must realise that we have ousted Him from our hearts, our lives and our society. Then, we must repent and convert, turning back to God.

The first reading, taken from Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7, presents humanity as enslaved by sin. And sin is presented as a deliberate choice of disobedience and revolt against God in an attempt to take his place. We may read the narrative of Adam and Eve's sin as a historical fact or as a picture of our actual attitude towards God. Adam and Eve represent us, the whole of humanity. We have torn apart our communion with God, breaking our ties with him and considering him an obstacle to our freedom, well-being and happiness. We want to decide our own future, since we know what better fits us and our needs. Eating from the tree of knowledge, we will establish what is good, that is, what benefits us and gives us life to the full. We become the Creator, and, doing that, we sit on God’s throne. While doing that, we forget that we are knitting the ropes that enslave us. We end up being controlled by the instruments that we devised to master the world.

In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus is presented with three great proposals that, throughout the centuries, have guided humanity in their search for life and salvation. The satisfaction of our needs is paramount, and it comes before anything else, putting everything at our service. We live for that, and our desires must be satisfied to find relief and feel at peace with ourselves. For that, we are ready to manipulate God, forcing him to do what serves us and enhances our self-satisfaction. In the end, we struggle for the throne, holding power and grabbing wealth to achieve whatever we wish. I don’t need God; I am god.

Jesus rejected all proposals, putting himself wholly at the service of God. He came to do His will, and that is the only way for humanity to achieve life and salvation.

Let us pray with Psalm 51:

A pure heart create for me, O God,

  put a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,

  nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Give me again the joy of your help;

  with a spirit of fervour sustain me,

O Lord, open my lips

  and my mouth shall declare your praise.

 HE HAS GIVEN NO ONE PERMISSION TO SIN

VI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 5:17-37

Nowadays, it is common to hear some people say, “God made me like this.” So, there is nothing wrong with me, and people must accept me as I am. Thus, my flaws become virtues, and I feel proud of them. We justify ourselves and blame God for our failures. The first reading, taken from the book of Sirach, gives a clear answer to that claim: 

“He never commanded anyone to be godless,

  he has given no one permission to sin.” 

Indeed, “If you wish, you can keep the commandments, to behave faithfully is within your power.” There are two ways set before us: one leads to life and the other to death. “Man has life and death before him; whichever a man likes better will be given him.” (Sir 15:16-21).

We must accept responsibility for our actions. Nobody else is answerable for what we do but us. Whenever we deviate from the right path, we must recognise it and ask for forgiveness, entrusting ourselves to God’s grace and mercy.

In this regard, let us pray with Psalm 119:

They are happy whose life is blameless,

  who follow God’s law!

They are happy who do his will,

  seeking him with all their hearts.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

You have laid down your precepts

  to be obeyed with care.

May my footsteps be firm

  to obey your statutes.

In the Gospel, Jesus advises us to stay away from the scribes and Pharisees. They are very demanding and rigorous in their teachings about the Law, but they ignore the spirit of the same Law. They do everything to be recognised as just and holy, easily finding excuses for themselves. Jesus is concerned with the spirit of the Law, and he makes it clear that the sinful actions begin in our hearts.

And Jesus addressed four areas of human life where people easily find excuses to discard their sense of guilt and the need for repentance and conversion. Relationships among people must be based on respect for life and dignity, and whenever one breaks the bond of communion, they must ask for forgiveness and reconcile. A serious and committed relationship with God implies a serious and committed relationship with others.

Then, Jesus addresses the relationship between men and women, a relationship that must be lived in love sealed in marriage. Adultery destroys marriage, and it is sinful. And everything that leads to adultery falls into the same category. About marriage, Jesus makes it clear that divorce is not in God’s plans. The couple is called to be a sign in the family and in society of God’s committed and faithful love.

Finally, according to Jesus, we must not swear. Oaths are proof that we are neither sincere nor truthful. Thus, we are not trustworthy before God and before society. “All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”

WE ARE DISCIPLES OF JESUS, THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST

 V SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

In the Church and in all the communities that claim to be Christian, the cross is present everywhere. Indeed, Jesus’ discipleship is unthinkable without the cross. Over the centuries, we have lost the sense of horror and the tremor of fear before the cross. We have forgotten that the cross was an instrument of punishment and death, transforming it into an object of ornament or into an expensive piece of jewellery. We are blessed and saved by the cross of Jesus Christ, that is, by his passion and death on the cross. On the cross, Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins, thus reconciling us with God. The cross is the proof of Jesus’ love for the Father and for us. He remained faithful to the end, choosing to obey the Father with all his heart and soul, even if that would endanger his life. Lifted on the cross with stretched arms opened to the world and ready to embrace humanity, Jesus became the model for all those who search for life and salvation. We must be ready to lose our lives for the sake of truth and justice, being assured that dying with Christ is the way to eternal life.

In Athens, Paul made use of his knowledge of Greek culture and philosophy to announce the gospel of Jesus. He suffered a big disappointment since the result was very poor. In Corinth, he used a different approach: instead of using human philosophy, he spoke of Christ in simple, clear and straightforward language: “During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ.”

And we should never forget that to become a true disciple of Jesus, we must carry our cross (Mt 10:38). Indeed, throughout the centuries, the Church has suffered persecution, and many Christians have paid with their lives for being disciples of Jesus. The same is happening nowadays. In many regions of the world, Christians are being persecuted. Being taught by Jesus, we relate to others with respect and dialogue, while they use violence against us. We pray for our enemies and ask God’s blessings over them, while they insult and kill us. For some religions, the cross is anathema and idolatry, and they are ready to destroy it and destroy with it those who accept it as proof of faithfulness to Christ and of fellowship with all those who are overwhelmed by suffering. By doing that, we truly become the salt and the light of the world (Mt 5:13-16).