sunday 12 February, 2023

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Psalm 119:1-8

Matthew 5:21-37

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Reflection:  “Faith is a way of living”

This week Rick is on holidays and I have been asked to write the reflection. I am going to look at the Gospel reading from the Lectionary Matthew 5:21-37.

At times we all get annoyed at other people around us, it could be a husband or wife or even a total stranger who somehow seems to have done the wrong thing. If things get really bad it can become an all-consuming hate. Hate erodes us and our pride can at times get the better of us. But Jesus has given us a set of instructions to put things right in our lives.

The Gospel reading at first glance seems very harsh and stern, not the sort of thing we usually expect in Jesus’ teachings, it even gets a bit gory if you read it literally. Obviously it was not addressed to a modern-day audience although its message is still as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago. It was an address to Jews in a traditional Middle Eastern style using hyperbole, and culturally appropriate images. 

In the first part of the reading Jesus talks about being ready to accept God, to forgive others and set our life right. It is similar to the line in the Lord’s Prayer that we will be forgiven by God as we forgive those who sin against us. This is not some sort of deal we are striking with God. This is teaching to help us accept the grace of God and find a deep joy in faith. 

Jesus gave us two basic commandments, love your God with all your might, and love your neighbour as yourself. This reading from Matthew shows us that these two are linked, that to love God you need to live your faith and respect those around you. Jesus tells us that to be right within ourselves and with God, we need to be right with others.

The second part of the reading tells of the seriousness of sin and highlights this with the gouging of eyes and cutting off, of hands. All gruesome stuff and seems at first glance to conflict with the idea of forgiveness of sin. This is a literary device often used in ancient literature, which exaggerates the idea to emphasize its importance. I doubt if anyone in their right mind would actually do such things, and I wonder how, if taken literally does it fit with the Gospel message of a loving and compassionate God? 

Jesus then goes on to instruct the Jews to observe Jewish Law and talks of divorce which seems to be at odds with modern thinking, but this was at a time of Roman rule when Jewish law was threatened. I assume that Jesus was encouraging them to lead upstanding moral lives, which might have been very difficult with the prevailing morals of the Roman Empire.   

Some may ask “Why would you even bother; this only makes life more difficult”. Many think if you can get away with it and not get caught, then why not? Well we could easily think of a judgmental God who has the power to condemn but this view of the judgmental God and the ensuing guilt trip really belongs to the medieval age and not the Gospel message. Jesus tells us God will forgive our sins but that we must have faith, we must live our lives before God and follow his word. There is no room for a double life, we can’t wilfully sin and then say “Oh, that’s OK, my sins are forgiven”.

Yes in some ways it can make life a little more difficult but the rewards are great, no I am not talking of Heaven and Hell, but the richness and joy that faith can give. Although all major religions aim for a rich spiritual life and moral behaviour, the power of Christianity is the Gospel message of a deep and meaningful relationship with God through our faith in Christ.
 
Peace be with you…Warwick