Word to the Wise
Thursday, June 14, 2007 - Tenth Thursday in Ordinary Time
[2 Corinthians 3:15-4:1,3-6 and Matthew 5:20-26]You have heard it was said to your ancesters, 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......
. These lines are the first of a number that are: "You have heard it was said......but I say to you" types of expressions. Jesus gives his interpretation of the law of Moses in contrast to that of the scribes and Pharisees. What is important is to note that Jesus goes beyond the actual physical act of violence to the interior violence of emotions and intentions. Thus good conduct alone is not enough. Good thoughts are important too! We may be very adept at concealing "the urge to kill!" We know from our own experience that the way we think and feel can be as sinful as the way we behave externally. In fact, the internal acts may cause us more shame than the external ones because we have enough will power to resist behaving a certain way but not enough to resist thinking a certain way! The tension between the two can be very difficult as even St. Paul realizes in chapter seven of Romans. Integrity of thought, word and deed is what we seek in Christian moral life. The Mosaic Code specified how to behave and the scribes and Pharisees put a premium on their outward image. Jesus sees through this and makes the challenge a far deeper one for his disciples. Don't we ever know it! AMEN