THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 17 July 2011

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

Today we are presented with three stages or degrees of evil.

The Pharisees following the letter of the law understood that they must not kill. Our Lord adds to this and presents us with a more perfect commandment. We must not only refrain from murder, but we likewise must refrain from evil thoughts and words. That is, we must not indulge in anger and injurious words. In conforming ourselves to this new commandment we practice a more perfect virtue and become more just than the Pharisees.

We are tempted very often to think that we are good or just when we have not physically harmed anyone -- even though we harbor ill will towards someone or have uttered insults or evil words. Jesus tells us that this is not good enough. Our offerings and sacrifices are unacceptable to God when we carry such evil on our conscience. Therefore if we are about to offer our gifts to Him and remember that we have anything against our brother, we must first go and reconcile ourselves before we can offer the gift to God.

How dare we to ask forgiveness of God, if we are unwilling to forgive our brother? How foolish of us to pray the Lord’s Prayer and ask God to forgive us in the same way that we forgive all those who have hurt or wronged us, while we harbor evil in our hearts!

St. Peter reminds us today that we must not render evil for evil, or abuse for abuse, but contrariwise, we should render good for evil. We must bless and not curse those who have hurt us. We must love our enemies. Do good to those who have sinned against us.

Our pride and vanity will suggest to us that it is just for us to hate those who do evil; and it is good that we desire that they should be punished. In this we forget that God has also told us: “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay.” There is not an absolute justice or fairness in this life on this side of eternity. Justice will be meted out in eternity, after the first death, when we die and leave this world for the next one. Then God will read not only the actions, but also the words and thoughts of each and every one of us. We will be called to give an account of our hearts so that we can merit our reward or punishment.

Today when we see so much evil all around us it is difficult to hold back our alleged “righteous” indignation. We will always find an excuse to see our evil thoughts, words, and actions as somehow good. We must refrain from giving in to any such temptation. While we may criticize and condemn the evil all around us, we must likewise love the sinners who have fallen into these crimes.

Rather than curse them, we should pray for them so that they may repent and turn to that which is good. It is rather easy for us to forgive those who have not hurt us personally or intimately, but for those who are near to us or have truly harmed us with their words or deeds it is much more difficult. Realizing this, we must always be on our guard against entertaining evil towards our enemies. We must constantly attempt to see that they too have been called by God to salvation just as we have been. We must see that God is just as desirous of saving them as He is of saving us, perhaps even more so them than us. In order to achieve this virtuous outlook we are in need of God’s grace, and therefore we must constantly pray for the grace of charity. We must beg of God the grace to love one another as He loves us.

It is true that in this state we will suffer much abuse and injustice. The world and evil souls will take advantage of us. We will suffer persecution, but if we suffer this persecution for the love of God or as St. Peter says in quoting our Lord: “for justice’ sake” then we will be truly blessed. We will merit an eternal reward in heaven, but we may even become the example or encouragement for others to repent and turn to God and thus save their souls. This is the work that God desires of us; this solicitude for the salvation of one another. To love one another as God loves us.