Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 10th June

Message from Fr Paul for Thursday, 10th June 2021

           You will remember that in yesterday’s Gospel Jesus told his disciples that he had not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to complete them. He also said that the purpose of the Law must be achieved and that those who teach others must do so by example. In today’s Gospel passage from Matthew, (Mt 5: 20-26), he explains exactly what he means, when he says, “If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” This is a key sentence in the Sermon on the Mount. Generally speaking, the scribes and Pharisees were good, law-abiding people. In fact, many of the followers of Jesus, and probably Jesus himself, were brought up in that tradition. St Paul was a strict Pharisee and many of the early Christians came from that sect of Judaism. However, Jesus wants his disciples’ virtue to go deeper still, by which he means that obedience to the letter of the Law is not good enough. No, his disciples must be totally committed to God and to keeping the Law, not out of fear or dread of punishment but for the love of God and neighbour.

           He now gives the first of many examples as he proposes a deeper, more radical interpretation of the Law. Let’s read what he says. “You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill, he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.”

           For Jesus, what does: You must not kill mean? Obviously, much more than the mere act of physically killing someone. Hatred and anger are forms of murder, as are detraction and abuse of any kind, lacking a spirit of forgiveness or rejecting any attempt at reconciliation. Think of other forms of killing that can be added to this list. Jesus requires his followers to go beyond the letter of the Law and to apply it to every aspect of their lives. We are to obey the spirit of the Law, the intentions of the heart of God. Lord Jesus, show us how we are to keep the commandments and grant us the grace of the Holy Spirit to grow in love and holiness. Amen.