Seventh Sunday Ordinary Time
Fr Philip Mackenzie, Food for the Poor
February 19, 2023 •
Being Christ for the other person means bringing love to the other person. The love is of course, serving others. A call to perfection, that's what it is. That your body is really a temple of the Holy Spirit. . . .
The Lord is saying, let the Spirit of the law exist - not adhering to the law in its strictest sense. Because, out of the Ten Commandments, it is said the Hebrews made over 360 different laws. So people were walking on pins and needles.
The Lord, in His moment, said no. If you keep those two commands, you'll have kept all. And what are they?
To love the Lord your God with all your mind, your heart, your soul, your strength, your entire being. And to love who? Your neighbor, as we love ourselves. And who is our neighbor? Not the person next door, really. Your neighbor is anyone we meet, as He is saying in the Scriptures today. And in loving the neighbor, sometimes, there's an enemy among. But love the enemy the same way. Pray for those who hate you and persecute you.
If you have kept these two commands, then you'll have kept all the commands. . . .
And the last commandment before He left: Love each other as I have loved you.
A very pointed charge. His love is a selfless love, giving His entire Being for justice and right. And then, there comes peace.
And so it is my dear friends in Christ that this morning I am here, speaking on behalf of Food for the Poor.
"Love, wonderful love. The love of Christ for me.
Love, wonderful love. So rich, so full, so free.
Wide, wide as the ocean,
deep, deep as the sea,
high, high as the heavens above
is His love for you and me."
Lv 19:1-2, 17-18; Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48
Homily begins at 20:17
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