Reconciliation and “raising the bar”
Our Gospel passage today is part of Jesus’ three chapter-long teaching during the “Sermon on the Mount.” It includes the first in a series of expressions in which Jesus states, with respect to one of the Ten Commandments: “You have heard it say…but I say to you.” In these expressions Jesus teaches us about what it means to truly fulfill the commandments.
Today, Jesus says:
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.
A close friend of mine, who for many years oversaw mission animation and integration in our programs, said that Jesus was “raising the bar” in these sayings about fulfilling the commandments.
Lent is a time for us to “raise the bar” and “raise our game” in our lives as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ. Reconciling with one another, loving our enemies, turning the other cheek, and always forgiving — as Jesus explains later in this sermon — characterize what’s required to fulfill the commandments.
In light of today’s message of reconciliation and “raising the bar,” I would like to conclude with the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Prayerful wishes for an ongoing fruitful and grace-filled Lenten season!
Fr. Dennis Weber, SdC, a priest of the Servants of Charity and Director of Ministry and Mission for the Intellectual and Developmental Programs Division of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.