Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18; Psalm 102; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48
Leviticus, meaning “he called”, is about holiness, the utter separateness of God. We are each called to become whole, like a jigsaw with all the parts fitting together perfectly. Hence “You shall be holy, because I, the Lord, am holy”. The book expands the basic commandments, insisting on concern for our neighbour, the sacredness of sex, the marriage laws, and forbidding aberrant sexual behaviour. Thus the Israelites are to keep themselves in a state of wholeness, as a sign of their intimate union with the Holy Lord.
The psalm is a hymn of grateful praise to God, whose mercy is great because he knows man’s frailty.
Paul is critical of the Corinthians, telling them they were not mature enough to be given the solid food of spiritual instruction, because they were still jealously quarrelling among themselves about who to follow. They must follow only Christ, obeying God’s rules, even though this will be seen as foolishness by the wisdom of this world.
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus continues drawing out the meaning of the Commandments in the sermon on the mount. Last week the shorter form omitted the difficult teachings forbidding divorce and calling our brother a fool. Today we are urged to love our enemies. Always Jesus pushes us further, urging us towards perfection, in union with our heavenly Father.
Psalm Response: The Lord is compassion and love.
(Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18; Psalm 102; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48)