DAILY GRACE
June 11, 2020, Thursday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time
Scripture: Matthew 5:20-26
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Meditation
“. . . and if you say, ‘You fool’, you will be liable . . .”
Oh, oh! . . . Ouch! . . . Oh boy! . . . Gulp! . . .
When we were children we used to respond to name-calling by chanting: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words/names will never hurt me.” But of course, being called a name really did hurt. Children are probably more thoughtless than heartless. At a certain age, they seem fascinated by plays on words and they extent this wordplay to the names and traits of their peers.
As adults, hopefully, we no longer call people names. Unfortunately that hope doesn’t always hold up, does it? And if we don’t actually call someone a name, we sure are thinking it! We also frequently will categorize people, label them mentally. It’s never good to label because labelling (assigning labels) influences our attitudes, even if we never actually voice our thoughts.
Of course it’s hard, actually it’s probably impossible to avoid name-calling and labelling others completely. But it leads us nowhere good. Jesus tells us that we will be “liable” to the hell of fire for doing it. This passage of Matthew is dense with moral exhortation. Jesus says so much in so few words. And he doesn’t mince words! And that word about leaving one’s gift at the altar to go and reconcile? That needs no comment. It’s crystal clear.
Prayer
Jesus, Divine Master, your teachings on anger are crystal clear. Please help me to remember them in times of agitation. I want to focus on the respect due to every human person. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that all of us are made in your image and likeness, but I intend to keep trying. Lord. Live and love in me so that your Law will be will be fulfilled in and through my life. You are our Way to the Father, be my Way and sure guide. Give me the grace to model my life on yours.
Contemplation
“If you say, ‘You fool”, you will be liable . . .”