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Focussing the Gospel

Key words and phrases: You have heard … But I say to you, sun rise, rain, just and unjust, be perfect … as your heavenly Father
To the point: In this gospel, Jesus challenges us to go beyond our expected responses to human interactions. But, challenging as they are, his examples of this “beyond” are nonetheless still finite human actions and limited love. Jesus’ examples are shocking—but not nearly so shocking as what he really expects of us: “be perfect” as our “heavenly Father,” who gives Life (“sun rise” and “rain”) to “the just and the unjust” alike. Infinite actions. Limitless love. What a challenge!
Connecting the Gospel
to the First Reading:  The first reading is a selection from the holiness code of the book of Leviticus. When this book teaches we are to “Be holy” as God is holy, it is saying the same thing as Jesus who challenges us in the gospel to “be perfect” as our “heavenly Father.” God’s holiness is God’s perfection.
to experience:  We encounter God’s holiness or perfection in the traces of God’s glory all around us. For example, the glory of a sunrise or the refresh- ment of a rainfall, or the radiant smile of an innocent child or the limitless love of a selfless caregiver.

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Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis
for Sundays and Solemnities
Year C - 2016.
Joyce Ann Zimmerman, CPPS;
Kathleen Harmon, SND de N;
and John W. Tonkin.
Living Liturgy 2011

Liturgical Press

Thank you to Liturgical Press who makes this page possible
For more information about Living Liturgy 2016 click picture above.
Art by Martin Erspamer, OSB
from Religious Clip Art for the Liturgical Year (A, B, and C).
This art may be reproduced only by parishes who purchase the collection in book or CD-ROM form. For more information go http://www.ltp.org
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