A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Seven

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:21-48 (NRSVUE)

This may be a true statement. How is Jesus
asking us to go beyond it?

As we continue with Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we find that today's teaching seems to be about taking our relationships seriously.  In today's society, with increased polarization, the ending or cutting off of relationships seems to be trending.  

According to Bowen's Family Systems Theory, this is not a healthy response to relationship.  In the first century, people didn't have the mobility that we experience today.  So, maintaining healthy relationships was important for everyone involved because of proximity.

Jesus mentions reconciliation and states that we should be careful when angry with someone that we don't call them derogatory names.  I'm reflecting on how often "fool" or other derivatives enter my mind during the day.  My guess is that we could all do better here.

Prohibitions on adultery and divorce are also relational.  Of course, these came out of a patriarchal system where a man could divorce a woman, but the reverse was not a possibility.  The disallowance of divorce was a leveling of power between gender - it didn't make them equal, but it was a movement.

Jesus seems to ask for us to have integrity in our relationships (imagine that!) where we can be taken at our word.  He doesn't want us to bring God into the mix for our convincing arguments.  Jesus sees this as a misuse of God's name which is prohibited in the Ten!

Retaliation makes the whole world blind and toothless. Jesus recognizes that when there are power differentials such as between a Roman soldier and a Jewish citizen, one might get on top of the abuse by asserting one's freedom of choice to go beyond what was being asked.  Take the power back!

Finally, we are asked to love our enemies.  Jesus is not talking about love as a feeling as much as love as an action.  If we believe God loves them, can we remember that as we interact with them?  

As we reflect on the Beatitudes at the beginning of the sermon, adopting humility, mercy and peacemaking can move us a long way toward accomplishing all that Jesus lines out for us here.

In reviewing the different pieces of today's reading, which causes you the most heartburn?  Why do you think that is?  If someone were to be able to accomplish all that Jesus lines out here, that person would be strong indeed.  This person would have a sense of self - identity - that others could not take away with their words or actions.  They would practice healthy boundaries.  They would seek to make the world a better place just by being in it.  I pray for this strength for you today.

Prayer for the day:

You have called us, O God, to be your people.  You have loved us and chosen us for your own.  Clothe us with your compassion, your kindness, your humility, your gentleness and your patience.  Help us forgive one another as you have forgiven us.  And bind us all together in perfect unity of your love. Amen.

Prayer adapted from Colossians 3:12-14 (Good News Bible)

Photo by PINKE via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.