Today’s Gospel passage is Matthew 5:21-37.
“You have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago, Don’t commit murder,and all who commit murder will be in danger of judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with their brother or sister will be in danger of judgment. If they say to their brother or sister, ‘You idiot,’ they will be in danger of being condemned by the governing council. And if they say, ‘You fool,’ they will be in danger of fiery hell. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go. First make things right with your brother or sister and then come back and offer your gift. Be sure to make friends quickly with your opponents while you are with them on the way to court. Otherwise, they will haul you before the judge, the judge will turn you over to the officer of the court, and you will be thrown into prison. I say to you in all seriousness that you won’t get out of there until you’ve paid the very last penny.
“You have heard that it was said, Don’t commit adultery. But I say to you that every man who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart. And if your right eye causes you to fall into sin, tear it out and throw it away. It’s better that you lose a part of your body than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to fall into sin, chop it off and throw it away. It’s better that you lose a part of your body than that your whole body go into hell.
“It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a divorce certificate.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife except for sexual unfaithfulness forces her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
“Again you have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago: Don’t make a false solemn pledge, but you should follow through on what you have pledged to the Lord. But I say to you that you must not pledge at all. You must not pledge by heaven, because it’s God’s throne. You must not pledge by the earth, because it’s God’s footstool. You must not pledge by Jerusalem, because it’s the city of the great king. And you must not pledge by your head, because you can’t turn one hair white or black. Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. Anything more than this comes from the evil one.
Here is what the group had to say about it:
BEHOLD
The graphic nature of Jesus’s admonition to “chop” off one’s hand if it causes sin stood out to us. We wondered what “sin” might mean in this instance (and that it seemed to be relation-breaking in nature) and how much of an idiom these admonitions were meant to be. We took note of the interfacing which Jesus is encouraging us to commit (“make things right with your brother or sister,” “Be sure to make friends quickly with your opponents,” don’t separate from your spouse). We were also struck by the authority Jesus has over the Old Testament – “you have heard it said” vs “I say.”
FEEL
We felt both slowed down to contemplation yet also prodded to action, inspired and moved toward more.
DO
This encounter with Jesus made us feel emboldened toward reconciliation. We will be more mindful of the Kingdom of which we are citizens, ; life should be less about “me” succeeding. We will strive less and abide more in the Jesus, pursuing the kind of contemplation which leads to action. Our relationships will be characterized by the certitude of who Jesus is and who we are in him with the kind of latitude that allows grace to infuse those relationships.
Shiloh Group 