In our Epistle we were instructed by Saint Peter, “Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing… Even if you do suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed.”
The Latin word for “bless” is “benedicere” which means to speak well of one another. Therefore, we are being instructed to speak well of others even those who are our enemies. So often when we engage those of different opinions we overlook the virtue of charity. As Christians we must be sent forth in a spirit of charity and prayer.
If we look to our Gospel we encounter the Pharisees and scribes who were so convinced of their understanding of truth that they failed to be opened up to charity. This lack of charity and their self righteousness caused them to overlook Christ and His healing words. They followed the letter the Law, but failed to allow their heart to be transformed by it.
Our readings do not call us towards compromising on sin and Church teaching. Our readings do challenge just towards living out a spirit of charity. We must speak out against evil and fight against it, but at the same time we must make good use of the tongue. So often we are unwilling to dig deeper into a given situation and instead lash out when we are missing all of the facts. The lack of charity that is shown especially through social media is concerning because so often people use this medium of communication to attack instead of to speak well of others.
The Pharisees hearts were far from conversion. They used the proper words, but their hearts remained far away from Him. So often we go through the proper motions and say the right words, but fail to allow these same motions and words to be present within our own heart. The Gospel call us towards something far greater than motions and words and that is conversion. We must allow our heart to be converted if we are to be sent forth to live.
Whenever we come to encounter God we come to encounter the very basis of charity itself. The charitable love of the Savior is seen from the cross for it was from here that He laid down His life for the salvation of the world. He did this for us out of love. With this encounter with Him let us be sent forth in a true spirit of charity. From charity let us truly begin to bless by not tearing down, but by building up. Let us speak well of one another, let us rebuke sin in charity, let us lead others into an encounter with God through the balance of prudence and charity. In all things let us be true disciples of the Lord who have integrated the life of faith into who we are as a human person.
Let all sinful anger be banished from our midst and let us be lead forth in charity in order that we may always live for the greater glory of God.
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