Thursday, June 9, 2016

Matthew 5: 20-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother,
‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

In yesterday’s reading we are told that Jesus came not to do away with the Law but fulfill it. We are also told that not a jot or a tittle will pass away from the Law before the second coming. This has lead to a common misunderstanding that Christians are to live their lives according to the Law as the Jews do. Questions are often asked about what the minimum we must do to satisfy the requirements. If I attend a wedding on a Saturday does that satisfy my Sunday obligation? I am tithing 10% as required. How often must I go to confession?

In today’s reading we are shown what fulfill the Law actually means. The Law is the basic requirements of how we are to live. As Christians we are called to fulfill the Law, that is, to exceed what the Law requires. We are not to look for the minimum we can do. We are to surpass what is required.

For example; the Law says that we are not to kill. That is the minimum requirement. As Christians we are called to do more than the minimum. To just not kill is not enough. We are called to love our brother. Having anger in our hearts is the equivalent of killing. Holding a grudge is the equivalent of killing. These things continue to separate us from having a right relationship with God. We are called to fulfill the law by exceeding its demands. We are to fulfill the Law in the way that the Living Law, Jesus, taught us. We are to love our brother and have mercy on him. We are to forgive as the Father forgives. If we come before the Father and we still hold a lien against a brother that we are unwilling to let go of God will do likewise and not release the liens he holds against us.

A Pharisee may ask, “Does going to a wedding on Saturday meet my Sunday obligation?” Does it meet the requirements of the Law? As a Christian we are called to fulfill, to exceed. We shouldn’t be asking, “Does this meet the obligation?” We should be asking, “How many Masses can I go to this weekend?”

Until you crave the Lord as much as you crave the air you breathe you have not fulfilled the Law.

Lord, fill me with your love and presence. Help me to desire nothing more than this.