The Life Contract

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today include the concluding exhortation of Moses to the Israelites to present the conditions of the Covenant with God which he is imploring them to choose. The summary is that the Lord will be their God and they will be His people. The message reveals the desire of God to set Israel above all nations to attract praise, fame and honour as a holy people. The desire of God to delight in humanity is not restricted to the "chosen people". Rather they are to be the example of a people "holy to the Lord your God" for the invitation of all nations into an intimate relationship with the Divine. The psalmist praises the decrees of God where he finds happiness and closeness to God in living according to the will of the Lord. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus underlines and reinforces the message of the desire of God to include all people in contract for Life which draws them to a be holy. The aspect of holiness which Jesus presents today is our need to grow in mercy, compassion and care toward those who we fear as enemies. The opposite movement to loving people is to fear them. We characterize those we fear as enemies. Our road to holiness and being the example to all nations of the Life in relationship with the Divine is to be concerned about the spiritual and material welfare of those who have and perhaps are continuing to hurt us. Friar Jude Winkler offers some practical means to make this difficult action present in our lives. The understanding of St Augustine that the challenging actions which we take toward holiness are only possible through the grace of God may be demonstrated as we "love our enemies".