LOVE MUST BE PURE
6th Sunday
Most of us can speak of the experience of falling in love. As we are growing up we open our eyes to the beauty and goodness of people and we are attracted to these people, their qualities, their bodies, their attitudes, their persons – we fall in love! Are you in love today?
Our gospel today continues the Sermon on the Mount, delivered by Jesus to his disciples and still a source of wisdom and inspiration for us today. In this part of the sermon, Jesus invites us not only to be good but to be “very good” in living out our faith. He encourages and empowers us to be live lives of virtue.
Among the teachings in the gospel today Jesus challenges us to love authentically. As we are celebrating this month the secular feast called Valentines Day, it is good to see how we practice the art of loving in our dealing with each other.
Jesus reviews our knowledge of the Old Testament: You must not commit adultery. But he goes beyond it and also says: the one who looks at a woman (or a man) with lust in his heart, is already committing adultery.
The Jews were very harsh against infidelity. Early practice allowed multiple spouses but later practice endorsed fidelity to only one spouse. And if you are married, if you are committed to someone, then you must be focused on loving and serving only that person. Going against that commitment is a sin punishable by death.
In our time, it is very difficult to remain focused on just one person. Our secular culture entices us to fantasize about breaking our commitments. Married men find attractive young lasses in the office. The wife of an overseas worker exchanges text messages with an available young bachelor. Having a girl/boy friend does not mean that you cannot easily get a date with another person.
Modern environment does not help. It shows us that love can in fact be secondary because people too can be used like products in the market. Motels can be the modern rendezvous of lovers. Money can be the driving force to attraction. The internet provides sex and pleasure without leaving one’s room.
But Jesus calls us to be pure of heart. It is not the act alone that makes us sin. Even the thought of sinning is already a sin. Jesus calls us to be pure of heart, meaning without stain in our act of loving. As everything starts with thought and intention, our minds and hearts must be free of the malice of lust, manipulation and exploitation. We must not think of others as objects we can play with.
If you are in love with someone, remain faithful to that special person. If you are tempted to use others for your pleasure, pray for strength to avoid using others. The Lord reminds us that love is not just a feeling, an encounter, an activity. Love is a struggle to will that which is good for the other. Just like he did. Lord teach us your own way of pure love.
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