Matthew 5:1-26
Today’s 26 verses were covered in three sections two years ago. Comments linked below for all three…
We often refer to Jesus contrasting the “letter of the law” with the “spirit of the law”: You have heard that it was said…, but I say to you…” (vv. 21a, 22a). And we do it ourselves, trying to see if we are interpreting a “law” correctly. The speed limit is 70 and I typically set my cruise-control somewhere between 75 and 79. I’m not interpreting the law differently here – I’m purely breaking the law! But I live with myself. But this “letter vs. spirit” rings loud today when current and former members of our Supreme Court want to hold fast to the exact words that our forefathers wrote in our Constitution. They are looking at the “letter of the law” as put forth in the late 18th century and amended numerous times thereafter. I tend to disagree with those justices quite regularly, wondering if that “letter” passed more than two centuries ago applies in the same form today. I’m in over my head, but it is intriguing to me that the letter of the law vs. the spirit of the law is an issue unchanged from two millennia ago.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (v. 14) This verse, especially the second half always strikes Carol and me, as we recall travels around Europe where castles are always perched at the top of a hill, making for a more sound defense against attack. But in central Italy we saw this verse even more striking, where entire (small) cities were high on a mound above the flat countryside below. The most prominent landmarks were the church steeple and the protective wall built around the city. These cities could not be hidden; they could be seen from miles away!!
I was struck by Jesus’ three-fold comments regarding “You shall not murder”: But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother…; whoever insults his brother…; and whoever says, ‘You fool’… (v. 22) Jesus does not leave a lot of room for me to deny breaking that commandment!
See also: March 4 / Matt. 5:1-12; March 5 / Matt. 5:13-20; March 6 / Matt. 5:21-26
Today, I first read the Archbishop’s ‘Word From The Lord’, as I do nearly every day. His message was closely akin to that of the Beatitudes; that ‘our calling is to lift each other up through love and encouragement.’
Great messages from Matthew and from the Archbishop to start the day!
If you don’t already follow Archbishop Beach’s AWFTL, here’s the link:
https://awftl.podbean.com/
From that link you can register and get his “word” every day.
Fred’s link above gets you to the “A Word from the Lord” podcast itself. The main page, with additional resources, is https://awordfromthelord.org/ .
I offer this picture of Orvieto, Italy (no, I did not take it), which we saw from a distance away.
Like so many towns in more ancient places than the USA, it reminded us of the verses today about being salt, being a light, truly being a city on a hill. They are SO noticeable.
Being a light like Jesus was a light means being available for service, prayer, healing—as Michael was pointing out in his sermon on Sunday. Making faith in Jesus attractive to unbelievers. Am I? I would like to think so…
Whenever I read the Beatitudes, I come away with a new favorite. This time my favorite is “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” So easy to say, and so difficult to do in practice. We have opportunities everyday to be merciful in how we act or think about others. Often, it doesn’t even require doing something, it just requires changing our attitudes. I was thinking about driving home the other day and a driver was tailgating me even though I was doing the speed limit. That guy really irritated me and I called him some names under my breath. Perhaps I should have just shown him mercy and said a prayer for him. A missed opportunity for me.
I am struck again by how rich the Beatitudes are! With these few words Jesus points us in the direction we ought to go, offers hope and encouragement, and pointedly indicates how truly upside-down and backwards the world’s perspective is. And by “world’s perspective” I mean everybody’s “natural” way of looking at things! Indeed, our ways are not God’s ways; His are much better — and blessed! (Isaiah 55:8,9)
I also took note afresh of the importance of reconciliation. Jesus says that it is so important that we should “leave…the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Mt 5:24) Do we recognize that that is the purpose of “The Peace” in our liturgy? It is not just a simple opportunity to “greet your neighbor” and say, “Hello.” It is there to ensure that we do indeed reconcile with one another and come to real peace before we partake of the Eucharist. Hopefully, our relationships are such that no such reconciliation is necessary in that moment, but if it is, I daresay the 45 seconds or so allotted to “The Peace” is wildly insufficient!