Instruction in Holiness"
Today's Mass Readings
Our two readings today, together with the psalm, seem to focus on instruction – we might even say “rules” or “commands.” In the passage from Leviticus, the LORD gives Moses instructions to give to the people of Israel. Each of these commands begins with a teaching about interacting with others and ends with “I am the LORD.” This indicates that rightness in our actions with others has its source in knowing that God is the LORD. We know that he is holy, and therefore that we who follow him should also be holy. The gospel reading portrays the last judgment, with the Shepherd-King on his throne, separating out the goats from the sheep. The sheep, that is, the ones who inherit the kingdom of God, are those who have helped others in what the Church has traditionally referred to as “the corporal works of mercy”: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the ill, and visit the imprisoned. Again, we see here a close connection between recognizing God and being in right relationship with others. Jesus says, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for the least one of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt. 25:40). In other words, we are called to recognize the presence of God in each person we encounter. We could say that this instruction is a clarification of that which is found in the first reading. With the person of Jesus, it’s not just that God says “I am the LORD,” but rather that Jesus the LORD himself has been among us on earth.
Moreover, as we reflect on the season of Lent, we realize that Jesus has been hungry (fasting in the desert), thirsty (on the cross), the stranger (traveling), naked (stripped of his garments), ill (injured in the flogging and crown of thorns), and imprisoned (prior to his crucifixion). This is not simply some idealized talk about others. Rather, these instructions for holiness intimately involve God.
After reading through the Mass texts for today, we may despair that we are not doing enough to help those around us. This is a serious and legitimate concern, and something that each of us must continue to reflect upon. Are we doing the corporal works of mercy? Do we love our neighbors as ourselves? Or do we constantly fall short of these instructions on holiness?
After reflecting on these questions, we need to take action. First, stop making excuses; engage in the corporal works of mercy, and let it be a Lenten resolution that continues beyond Lent. Secondly, ask God for forgiveness in the ways we do not live up to his commands for us. The sacrament of confession is an excellent way to reflect on our sins. Lastly, be open to receiving God’s grace in this Lenten season. The good news is not that we can do everything on our own, but that we will fail, and God will still redeem us in his passion, death and resurrection.
- Maria Morrow