Dear brothers and sisters, Love keeps us together. Fr. Cielo

1. Welcome to our Bible Study
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time A
23 February 2014
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st Reading: Leviticus 19,1-2.17-18
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1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Speak to the
whole Israelite community and tell them: Be
holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy.
17 "You shall not bear hatred for your
brother in your heart. Though you may have
to reprove your fellow man, do not incur sin
because of him. 18 Take no revenge and
cherish no grudge against your fellow
countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as
yourself. I am the LORD.
The focus is on being holy.

3. 1st Reading: Leviticus 19,1-2.17-18
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1 The LORD said to
Moses, 2 "Speak to the
whole Israelite
community and tell them:
Be holy, for I, the LORD
your God, am holy.
17 "You shall not bear
hatred for your brother in
your heart. Though you
may have to reprove
your fellow man, do not
incur sin because of him.
18 Take no revenge and
cherish no grudge
against your fellow
countrymen. You shall
love your neighbor as
yourself. I am the LORD.
Commentary:
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In v.2, God requires his people to
be holy like him.
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In v.17, God forbids us to have
rancor with our brothers (blood
brothers, relatives).
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We may correct their mistakes but
in the process we should not sin.
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In v.18, God forbids vengeance and
grudges against townmates and
countrymen.
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God requires us to be more
positive: to love others.
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God wants us to listen to him and
do his commands.
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It is the Lord / God speaking, the
Holy One.
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We cannot take him for granted.

4. Reflections on the 1st Reading
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We are called to imitate God.
We should imitate God’s holiness.
To be holy is to listen to God.
God commands us to love our brothers,
sisters, and neighbors (relatives and non-relatives).
We should not harbor grudge and rancor
against them.
It is the holy Lord God speaking.
Choose love over hate. Be holy.

5. Resp. Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13
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R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
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1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
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3 He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
4 He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
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8 Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
10 Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
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12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

6. Resp. Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13
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R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
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1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
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3 He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
4 He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and
compassion.
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8 Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
10 Not according to our sins does he deal
with us,
nor does he requite us according to our
crimes.
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12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from
us.
13 As a father has compassion on his
children,
so the LORD has compassion on those
who fear him.
Commentary
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In vv.2-3, the psalmist blesses
(praises, give thanks to) God.
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He reminds himself of God’s
graces.
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V.3 says God is a forgiving God.
He pardons our sins and heals
us.
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V.4 says God is redeemer, saves
us from destruction.
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He is kind and compassionate.
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V.8 says God is merciful and
gracious, slow to anger, very
kind.
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V.10 says God deals with us not
according to our sins and crimes,
(but according to his mercy.)
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V.12 says that God’s compassion
is boundless.
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In v.13, God tenderly shows his
compassion

7. Reflections on the Psalm
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We should bless (praise) the Lord, for
he is good.
God is forgiving and compassionate.
We must not be afraid to approach him
for the forgiveness of our sins and the
healing of our infirmities.
We have hope. Let us rejoice.

8. 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
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16 Are you not aware that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone
destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for the
temple of God is holy, and you are that temple. 18
Let no one delude himself. If any one among you
thinks he is wise in a worldly way, he had better
become a fool. In that way, he will be really wise. 19
For the wisdom of this world is absurd with God.
Scripture says: "He catches the wise in their own
craftiness,“ 20 and again: "The Lord knows how
empty are the thoughts of the wise.” 21 Let there be
no boasting among men. All things are yours, whether
22 it be Paul or Apollos or Kephas, or the world or life
or death, or the present or the future: all these are
yours, and you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.

9. 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
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16 Are you not aware that you are
the temple of God, and that the Spirit
of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone
destroys God's temple, God will
destroy him; for the temple of God is
holy, and you are that temple. 18 Let
no one delude himself. If any one
among you thinks he is wise in a
worldly way, he had better become a
fool. In that way, he will be really wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is
absurd with God. Scripture says: "He
catches the wise in their own
craftiness,“ 20 and again: "The Lord
knows how empty are the thoughts of
the wise.” 21 Let there be no boasting
among men. All things are yours,
whether 22 it be Paul or Apollos or
Kephas, or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future: all these
are yours, and you are Christ’s and
Christ is God’s.
Commentary
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In v.16, Paul teaches that we
are the temple of God,
temple of the Holy Spirit.
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V.17 warns those who
destroy the temple of God
(humans). They, too, will be
destroyed by God.
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V.18 says it is foolishness to
think ourselves better than
others.
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Vv.19-20 teach that man’s
wisdom is absurdity to God.
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It holds no water.
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Vv.21-22 forbid boasting.
God owns us and Christ.

10. Reflections on the 2nd Reading
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We, Christians, are sacred.
We are God’s dwelling place (by virtue of our
baptism).
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No one should destroy or desacralize us.
We should not lower our level by boasting
or by taking pride in human wisdom.
We must believe and admit that we are
God’s own and act accordingly.
Do you know who you are in God’s
eyes?

11. Gospel Reading: Matthew 5,38-48
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38 JESUS said to his disciples: "You have heard the
commandment, 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But
what I say to you is: offer no resistance to injury. When a person
strikes you on the right cheek, turn and offer him the other. 40 If
anyone wants to go to law over your shirt, hand him your coat as
well. 41 Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go
with him two miles. 42 Give to the man who begs from you. Do
not turn your back on the borrower.
43 "You have heard the commandment, 'You shall love your
countryman but hate your enemy.' 44 My command to you is:
love your enemies, pray for your persecutors. 45 This will prove
that you are sons of your heavenly Father, for his sun rises on
the bad and the good, he rains on the just' and the unjust. 46 If
you love those who love you, what merit is there in that? Do not
tax collectors do as much? 47 And if you greet your brothers
only, what is so praiseworthy about that? Do not pagans do as
much? 48 In a word, you must be perfected as your heavenly
Father is perfect."
The focus is on being perfect.

12. Gospel Reading: Matthew 5,38-48
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38 JESUS said to his
disciples: "You have
heard the
commandment, 'An eye
for an eye, a tooth for a
tooth.' 39 But what I say
to you is: offer no
resistance to injury.
When a person strikes
you on the right cheek,
turn and offer him the
other. 40 If anyone
wants to go to law over
your shirt, hand him
your coat as well. 41
Should anyone press
you into service for one
mile, go with him two
miles. 42 Give to the
man who begs from
you. Do not turn your
back on the borrower.
Commentary
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The gospel reading is part of the teachings
of Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount. (Mt
5-7)
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In v.38, Jesus teaches us, Christians, not
to be vengeful.
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V.39 teaches us how to practice nonvengeance:
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No resistance, turn the other cheek, v.39
In v.40, Jesus teaches us, Christ’s
disciples, to be more charitable. If people
ask something, we should give more.
In the same vein, in v.41, when people ask
us to accompany them, we should go with
them a mile more, or, more than what is
requested. We get out of our way.
In v.42, Jesus teaches us to be generous.
We should give unconditionally.
Don’t be selfish.

13. Gospel Reading: Matthew 5,38-48
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43 "You have heard the
commandment, 'You
shall love your
countryman but hate
your enemy.' 44 My
command to you is:
love your enemies, pray
for your persecutors. 45
This will prove that you
are sons of your
heavenly Father, for his
sun rises on the bad
and the good, he rains
on the just' and the
unjust. 46 If you love
those who love you,
what merit is there in
that? Do not tax
collectors do as much?
47 And if you greet your
brothers only, what is so
praiseworthy about
that? Do not pagans do
as much? 48 In a word,
you must be perfected
as your heavenly Father
is perfect."
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In vv.43-44, Jesus teaches us not to be
selective in our love.
We should embrace everyone. We should
show our love to all, including those who
give us headaches and heartaches, those
who make us insecure.
V.45 gives the reason why we should be
doing extra.
To prove we are God’s children, who try to
imitate God.
God takes care of everyone, just and
unjust.
In vv.46-47, Jesus teaches that there is no
merit in loving those who love us. There is
nothing unusual in that. We must also
exceed the “holiness” of sinners, not only
the Pharisees and scribes.
In v.48, Jesus challenges us to be perfect
in our love, to imitate the heavenly Father.

14. Reflections on the Gospel
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To be Christians, we must make a difference.
Our love and virtues must be outstanding (they stand out)
and extraordinary.
We are not supposed to be mediocre in our practice of love
and charity.
We must all do this to imitate God in heaven, to be perfect
like him.
Are you forgiving?
Do you give extra time (mile, money, dress) to your loved
ones and the needy?
The meaning of perfection here is not flawlessness, not
being without error, but expanding your capacity to love, to
accommodate more people into your heart.

15. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
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The first reading teaches us to be holy, to love
our neighbors.
The psalm teaches us to love God, because he
is a forgiving and compassionate God.
The second reading teaches us to love
ourselves, the temples of the Spirit.
The gospel reading teaches us to be perfect, to
love everyone.

16. How to develop your homily / sharing
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Love is the theme of the readings.
For lovers, young and adult, this topic is
exciting.
We frequently talk about our boyfriends,
girlfriends, our ex-lovers, husbands and
wives and children.
Experts in relationships talk about filial
love, agapaic and erotic, romantic love.
The readings warn that love is hard work.

17. 
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The first reading enjoins us to love our
neighbors.
Our neighbors are the people next door, the
strangers, our relatives, classmates and
officemates, those who don’t belong to our inner
circle.
We are commanded to love and to take care of
them, as we love and take care of ourselves.
If we hate ourselves (because we are not that
beautiful, intelligent, rich, loveable, attractive,
charming, smart, etc.), we have a big problem.
Do you love yourself? (Do you eat healthy food,
get enough rest and sleep? Do you follow a
certain regimen (discipline) and a rhythm, like
regular meal, regular prayer time, regular work,
regular exercise, etc?)
Do you have a good attitude?

18. 
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The second reading teaches us to love our bodies,
our corporeality.
Our body is not just a material thing, composed of
elements and electrical charges, but the temple of
the Holy Spirit.
Each person is a sacred place of God.
We should love it by treating it with respect and
reverence. It is the first place to encounter God.
You cannot feel God’s presence in your heart, if
you treat your body shabbily and if you don’t pray.
Do you protect yourself from stressful lifestyle?
(being workaholic, having many appointments,
compromises, seldom home, etc.)
Stop being foolish. You should know your priority.
Holiness is doing your priority.

19. 
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The gospel reading teaches us to stretch out our
hearts and hands to others.
We cannot be choosy in our love.
We must love those whom we don’t like.
We must train ourselves to love (to have passion)
people who are in need.
We must know how to handle those who offend
and hurt us so much (no vengeance).
Christians do not have to be with friends all the
time.
Perfection consists in embracing everyone with
love.
Love is hard work, not emotionalism, eroticism,
daydreaming, fantasizing or sentimentalism.
To love, you have to sweat it out. It is not
convenient to love.
How do you show your love?

20. 
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In our world today where there is so much
violence, hostility, fragmentation, division,
suspicion, destruction, etc., love must be
shown in a concerted effort.
Agencies of governments and nations
must coordinate with one another to
eradicate the causes of violence.
Churches must be involved in interreligious and intercultural dialogues.
(ecumenism)
No religion should preach hatred.
Couples must be trained to handle their
problems, to reduce domestic violence
(child abuse, wife battering, sexual assault,
abandonment).

21. 
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Our parishes, shrines, and religious
organizations must promote love.
They should not become breeding places of
hatred and violence.
The leaders, the priests, the religious and the
catechists must exhibit love and patience.
Parish programs must prioritize formation and
character building.
Those who don’t attend formation must not be
allowed to lead in the church.
We must reduce church riders or opportunists
(they come when there is food, outing, and
parties sponsored by the church. They
disappear when there is formation and work.)
They must be formed to love and be relevant.

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The eucharist is the sacrament of love.
We cannot receive the holy eucharist if
we have no love.
The eucharist is for those who respect,
revere and love their bodies, their
neighbors and their God.
In the eucharist, Jesus comes down to
us to give us love.

23. Our Context of Sin and Grace
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Selfish
Full of hatred
Unholy, irreverent
conversations
Vengeful, vindictive
Culture of violence
Acts of provocation
Capitalistic, imperialistic (no
consideration and love for the weak
and poor)
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Playing with other people’s
sensitivities, making fun of their
deprivations
Absence of good will
Having good intentions only
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True Love Waits
Movement (no sex before
marriage)
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Loving, compassionate
Forgiving, big capacity
to understand
Networking
Altruism
Generous
Advocacies
Holy, perfect

24. Suggested Songs
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Bless the Lord, my Soul
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If we only have love
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxxxIcKJoMI
O Tao
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=JiCCXImRpeA&feature=related
One Man’s Hands
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY7craSYV9Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXhwzDRL7bM
Love Makes the World Go Round
Peace Prayer of St. Francis
Make me a Channel of your peace