This Sunday we have a third extract
from the Sermon on the Mount. It can appear at first glance to be a series of moral
statements and rules from Jesus. On closer reflection we can see Jesus’s
message here is the call for each of us to ‘go deeper’. The Scribes and the
Pharisees followed the letter of the law but without depth. Jesus is clear that
he has not come to demolish the law rather, this whole passage is a call to a
more profound reflection on our lives; not ticking boxes but moving towards a
deeper change of heart in dealings with others. Jesus gives many examples of
how people might do this: warning against the hypocrisy of offering gifts and
rituals at the altar, when we may have huge anger and resentment towards
another. Is the real sacrament not in reconciling that relationship first?
Which offering is more life-giving? It is not enough to ‘not murder’, but we
must watch our anger which can lead to violence. Jesus is calling on people to watch
their thoughts which can lead to serious actions like murder and adultery.
When we encounter Christ, the grace
that that experience brings can make us aware of what is not ok in our lives.
We are called to a radical conversion, a change of heart. And so we read
today’s passage with our hearts, not our heads. It may help to recall a time
when you felt God’s grace bringing you to a deeper realisation about your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment