Homily for 7 Epiphany A, February 20, 2011

My sisters and brothers: God calls us to the kind of holiness that makes a difference.

Three nurses appeared before St. Peter at the pearly gates. St. Peter said to the first, "Tell me what you did on earth."

Said she, "I was a birthing room nurse. I helped bring hundreds of precious babies into the world."

"Enter!" said St. Peter. Then he turned to the second. "And how about you?" he asked.

She replied, "I was a trauma unit nurse. I helped save hundreds of lives of people involved in terrible accidents."

"Enter!" cried St. Peter, and turned to the third.

"I worked for an HMO," she admitted. "Over the years I saved my company hundreds of thousands of dollars by refusing extended care to people who were trying to bilk the system."

"You may enter!" said St. Peter.

"You really mean it?" asked the nurse incredulously.

"Yes," replied St. Peter. "You've been pre-approved for three days."

In our first reading today, we heard Part of the moral code given through Moses. Leviticus is one of the first five books in the Old Testament. It is a book of law, and naturally follows Exodus. In Jewish circles, it was known as The Priest's Manual and has six parts; Our reading is the keynote of the Holiness Code. The people have been separated for a special covenant with the God who liberated them from Egypt. Israel’s holiness is derived from relationship to the holy God. Holiness here includes wholeness, perfection, and relationships between people or ethics.

The final summation is familiar to us because it recurs throughout the gospels: Love members of your family and fellow Israelites, taking neither vengeance nor nursing anger. If a fellow Israelite errs, correct him – not to do so would be a sin. Love your fellow Israelite as you love yourself.

In our second reading Paul has offers two metaphors for the Church: a crop in a “field” and a “building.” As God’s agents, he and Apollos have worked together: he has planted, i.e., founded the church at Corinth, and Apollos has watered, i.e., nurtured the community. This was part of the message we heard last week.

Paul now likens the growth of the church to constructing a building. He founded the community properly; “that foundation is Jesus Christ.” Others must construct the building above the foundation “with due care.” His final point is well worth our taking to heart: do not get overly wrapped up in human wisdom, God is far wiser. All human leaders of faith belong to the Faith Community and the Community to Christ and Christ belongs to God. Keep your perspective.

In the gospel we heard today, Jesus continues making his point about observing the law. The Pharisees and the scribes kept Mosaic law diligently, and taught it. Jesus has said this is not enough; one must strive for a deeper holiness.

Some details help us see his point. A soldier in the Roman army could force a civilian to carry his pack. The Greek words translated “forces” and “mile” reflect the imperial messenger service, a courier service using relays of horses. To “go . . . the second mile” would be to avoid another civilian being compelled. So the example is calling us to be generous, even under duress. Finally, to be “children of God” is to pattern one’s attitudes after God’s; he provides for all, both good and evil people.

My brothers & sisters, to be a holy person, to be a fully fledged Christian, is to care. As I’ve said before, its means that we do give a dam!

We are called to reach for the ideal we see in God’s own actions. Who provides good things from the earth for all, the good and the bad alike. This not a naive kind of value that assumes that all will come to love you if you love them. It is a reminder that we are not to hold old grudges once we have obtained justice or we vanquish an enemy.

Lets us not shy from Jesus’ ideal but strive for it.