Loading...This is one of those really difficult gospel readings.
The kind where you get to the end and think,
“How can I say ‘Praise to you, O Christ’ after that?!?”
It sounds like Jesus is making it so difficult to follow him and to be a disciple! He repeats this way of teaching several times:
“You have heard it said...
But I say....”
And each time, his “but I say...” part is MORE restrictive than the Law.
It begins to feel like it is a bind, and a super strict moral code.
No wonder people either skitter away from church, or
think of God as a “judge” sitting on a big chair, pointing at people and condemning them.
Plus, I know people who make sure that they skip church on this particular Sunday. These words are just too difficult for them to hear, especially if they ever divorced.
~~~~~~~~~~
This teaching from Jesus is difficult for me (and maybe for you)
because I believe that Jesus – God – is about life and grace, not morality.
It’s difficult for me because I cannot just read it as a stricter version of the Law that binds us up more tightly,
because I believe that God is a God of liberation and
of unbinding us and letting us go!
It’s also difficult for me because we cannot just throw out texts that are troubling, hard to understand, or that don’t fit with our own view of how the world should be.
Nor can we choose to “skip” church that day somehow!
So, we are left with the option of struggling with the text
and with Jesus’ teaching.
What IS he getting at?
What is he up to?
At this point, the best thing to do is to start asking questions, especially curious questions. “Why” questions, or “how come” questions, or my favorite: “isn’t it interesting....”
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus makes all of these parts of the Law more restrictive? Why would he do that?
You’ve heard it said, “don’t murder”;
but I say, “don’t even get angry!”
You’ve heard it said, “don’t commit adultery”;
but I say, “don’t even look at another with desire.”
You’ve heard it said, “don’t divorce”;
but I say, “if you do and then remarry, well, then, see above!”
You’ve heard it said, “don’t make an oath falsely”;
but I say, “don’t even make an oath. Just do what you say you’re going to do. Or, not.”
Who can do any of that?!?
Seriously, Jesus! Just let me off of the disciple bus right now.
What Jesus instructs us just cannot be done.
And anyone who thinks that it can..., they’re lying to themselves;
Anyone who tries to do this end up getting tangled up in knots!
So.
If it is impossible, then what is Jesus getting at?
One possibility is that Jesus is reminding us that we cannot fulfill the Law at all.
We simply have to rely upon Jesus.
We trust in the grace of God.
The other thing to remember is what, exactly, the Law is about.
For one thing, not about a morality code or checklist
(yes, useful, but not as a tool for keeping some out and
letting others in).
The point of the Law:
1. It is a gift from God. It is not a way to earn God’s love or favor.
It is not a path to salvation. It is a gift from God...
2. ...to strengthen community...
(so that we care for one another)
3. ...to orient us to the needs of our neighbor.
The Law gets us out of our self-referential rut
(where everything always ends up being about our own selves!)
The Law is God’s gift to you and to the whole world to shape us so that we love and care for one another.
And, when we can’t do it on our own –
because you know that we cannot –
God’s law (and Jesus’ edited version) protects and cares for all of God’s people, especially the most vulnerable amongst us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The point of the Law ... is life,
Our life in God.
It is God’s gift of life for us and to us. And we need it,
because we cannot do it for ourselves!
Moses, in his sermon in Deuteronomy, encourages the people about to step into the promised land of Israel to
choose life, to choose God’s way;
to follow this radical, un-self-centered, and
sometimes very difficult way of living
because it is the way of life – for all (not just for self or for some).
Paul remembers this
and reminds the Corinthian believers in his letter:
It doesn’t matter who planted or watered.
God gives us life.
God gives us growth.
God nurtures and trains us
(like a vine trained on a wire, or a rose bush trained on a trellis).
And we are God’s people together –
working, serving, and loving.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our Invite a Friend Sunday is next week.
It would be so much easier if the Bible texts were easy or beloved.
Instead, they will continue to school us and to train us.
Like this week’s, they won’t be the easiest in the whole book,
but they are, oh, so interesting!
I hope that you bring someone new with you –
a friend, family member, or co-worker –
As we, together,
today, next week, and every week
learn, listen, and are challenged by the Word
are nourished, cared for, and given tools in the Sacraments
and love, reconcile, and share mercy in the arms of Community.
All of this through the Law and the Good News of Great Joy
as we are held in the embrace of God who loves us
and gives us the life we need.
Amen
