SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME FEBRUARY 22/23, 2014
People who are innately generous leave a warm feeling in our hearts…especially if their generosity is extended to us... Generosity not so much with financial goods, but a generosity of spirit and their time. People who think of others before themselves And I see much of that around St. Michael’s parish life, and it is heartwarming.
As we read the scriptures this weekend, being generous of heart is what they are talking about. In today’s gospel, Jesus is speaking to Jewish people who are focused on the letter of the law and miss the whole spirit. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is rather revengeful as is Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. Jesus tells them they have to go beyond that and love their enemies and pray for those who persecute you. In order to do that it takes great generosity of spirit to put aside one’s own hurt and to think about the value of forgiveness.
We see how Jesus did that throughout his life and especially into the final hours before hid. “Father forgive them for they know not what they do. This day you will be with me in paradise.” To the very end Jesus demonstrated the importance of generosity toward one another.
I hear stories over and over again about the goodness of neighbors to one another. Just this past week, an elderly widow who had been married 67 years was approached by her young neighbor who reassured her he would be there for her in the future –generosity beyond the letter of the law.
Our first reading today from the Book of Leviticus, which is the book of the Law in the Old Testament, defines holiness as generosity toward others and not holding grudges.
Let us continue that spirit of generosity we see all around us and know that that is the way to holiness and salvation.