Friday, February 26, 2021

 Friday of the First Week of Lent

(Ezekiel 18:21-28; Matthew 5:20-26)

The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore once wrote, “Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.  In other words, death brings on a new reality, a completely different way of living.  Jesus introduces such a new way of living for his disciples in today’s gospel.

Much of the Torah or Law was meant to bring about justice.  For example, Jesus in this passage cites the law on murder.  If one murders another, he or she must be brought to justice.  Jesus makes clear, however, that such a standard does not meet the criteria of the kingdom of his Father.  His followers must not only not kill one another, but they cannot let enmity among themselves exist.  He seems to have community members in mind here.  Yet a similar standard will be applied to people of other communities, social strata, faith traditions, races, etc.  After all, he wants his followers to love their neighbors as themselves.

Most of us are taught to stand out and be recognized.  Our parents and teachers tell us to claim what rightfully belongs to us.  Jesus might say, “Don’t worry about what belongs to you, give of yourselves to benefit your neighbor.”  We are to be reconciled with all so that we may be identified with Jesus.  He is the one who reconciled the world to his Heavenly Father.

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