Homily – First Week of Lent - Saturday

Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect: go the extra step, go the extra mile, go the extra bit of understanding: and you will be rewarded greatly.

For the people of the Old Testament it was not simply OK, but it was praiseworthy for them "to just strictly observe the commandments of God" – literally, the 10 commandments and other prescriptions – to the letter. If they did that – we read in the Book of the Deuteronomy then the covenant between them and God would be valid and operable: they would be his people, he would be their God: it would be a unique and wonderful relationship.

But Jesus in the gospel passage is telling the disciples that the time has come for the covenanted people to do more than just the letter of the law. With the power and strength that he would give and confirm by the Holy Spirit – they would be able to truly live the spirit behind the commandments: to not just love your neighbors, but also now love you enemies; pray not only for yourselves and your families, pray for your enemies too. If you love and pray for only those who are good to you there is nothing meritorious about that: even pagans and tax collectors do that: no, you must go above and beyond what you have been taught. "It is time for the New Covenant, the New Testament that will be sealed with my own blood, shed for the forgiveness of your sins. It is in the power of this blood that you will be able to go out of your comfort zone and do what you really know you ought to be doing – be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect!"

Not many can do this flawlessly, but we can do it more consistently – on a day to day basis. That is why, especially in Lent we are encouraged to fast and to pray more and to give alms – so that will be more inclined to be a fully functional participant in the New Dispensation! And we have the amazing power and strength that comes from the Eucharist we celebrate and receive at this Mass each day. All the spiritual resources we need for our day can be gotten right here, right now! Let us open ourselves fully to this great and magnificent resource – and we can be more perfect today than we were yesterday!

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.

Today, if you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts.