From Our Pastor

02-19-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Aruldoss, Pastor

Dear People of God,

Good morning to you all. The liturgy of word of God calls us to be holy and to love our enemies. In today’s first reading from Leviticus, we are told to “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.” Our God is not God of punishment. He does not rejoice in the destruction of a sinner but longs for repentance. St. Paul, in addressing the disputes and rivalries among the Christians of Corinth in the second reading today, exhorted them that they are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in them.

The Babylonian law is that “an eye for an eye” or tooth for tooth. It seems to be a totally barbaric practice in the first sight. Actually, it was meant to help the people to put some limit towards their defeated enemies. It became known as the Law of Retaliation and puts limits on the level of revenge that could be taken for an injury people. Basing on this law of Retaliation, Jesus provides new instructions in today’s Gospel. When someone strikes you, turn your cheek. If someone goes to law over your tunic, give them your cloak, also. Go two miles when pressed for one. Love you enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

It may sound foolish. However, these teachings on retaliation reveal wisdom on both an earthly and a spiritual level. First, by teaching us to pardon insults rather than reacting with violence, Jesus reveals the only remedy for breaking the spiral of unending violence that results from perpetually seeking retribution. Second, when we show love for our enemies, we are able imitate God’s love. This is the love manifest by Christ when he walked the extra mile to Calvary, when he forgave his enemies from the cross. We become real children of God.

God’s holiness is closely linked to the sacredness of one’s human neighbor. God is holy to us, but we are also holy to him. So dear brethren, open your hearts also to begin to pardon whoever has harmed you more deeply, pray today for your enemies that they too may know the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness.

Season of Lent

Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on coming (Ash) Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence from meat for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards. The USCCB also states that: Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women. May God bless you all!

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Doss