Word to the Wise
Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
[Sir 15:16-21; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Matt 5:17-37 or 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37,48]"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." [Matthew]
The Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel According to Matthew is one long trip into our innermost being - to our motives and thoughts. Changing our external behavior is not enough. We have to change our hearts.
Matthew presents Jesus as a "new Moses" giving an interpretation of the law on the mountain. He is addressing a community that is primarily Jewish. The torah (first five books of the Old Testament) was God's will for Jews. Even if an ordinary Jewish peasant farmer or fisherman (most of Jesus first followers) would have difficulty fulfilling all 613 precepts of the Mosaic Law, at least they knew what God expected in the way of external conduct. What they thought and felt was not a matter of regulation! Jesus teaches that righteous external conduct must have a righteous motive. He also places a high priority on reconciliation and forgiveness - to the extent that reconciliation is more important than worship activity!!
I have spent many years preaching parish missions and retreats. A "reconciliation service" is ordinarily a part of these events. The examination of conscience that I use, however, is not like the ones most retreatants and parishioners are used to. They would usually hear a list of wrongful CONDUCT and be challenged to ask if they were guilty of any of these ACTIONS. The one I use asks about RELATIONSHIPS and whether or not there is a need for forgiveness and reconciliation. In other words, the challenge is to go inside where the hurt and injury has occurred! After hearing a list of sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I would ask, "Who got hurt? Who did you lie to, or steal from?" Sin always has a face on it. Jesus challenges us to put skin on our motives and to purify our intentions! It is not enough to avoid certain actions. We are invited to a new attitude and way of looking at life. Love without apology for hurts is empty. If we want to know what Jesus is inviting us to embrace so that we can be truly his disciples, the Sermon on the Mount is the starting point to a new life. AMEN