Love Alive
In Todays Gospel we hear Jesus listing the laws that Judaism prescribes to and shines a new light on them. For our Jewish brothers and sisters, the law they follow is rooted within the Torah. The word ‘Torah’ comes from the Hebrew verb ‘instruction’ and thus describes the instructions of the first couple books of the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures. The Torah is the book of instruction which reveals God’s will for them; it is a gift of the basic guidelines of life. Jesus today fleshes these laws out, and expands them beyond their surface level reading. He brings this new depth and how they are especially fulfilled in this new kingdom he sought to bring about.
Every single one of these fleshed out instructions deals with, above all, the love in our day to day relationships. They call for the loving of others in a dramatic, dignified, practical and holy way. The instructions are filled with a meaning that respects the humanity, dignity and temple that each and every person is. That is why in today’s gospel Jesus says that it is not enough to simply not kill, but you must not get angry or insult or falsely accuse someone to not break that law. Anything that hurts the relationship with another is not the Gospel, the instruction, of Christ.
As a community of faith, we are called to go beyond the mere laws and extend a hand of love. We are called to be a community that welcomes, that forms, and includes. We are called to be a community that extends true Christian love to everyone. Not just the people we know the best, but to every single person. The stranger in the pew, the annoying person that sits behind us in class, or the homeless person on the street. Christian love has no boarders. Our faith life is not contained within these four walls. By it’s very nature, faith extends to all areas of our life and desires to be lived in this world.
As we gather as a community of faith today, may we come with an open mind and heart to reflect on the depth and sincerity of our mission as Catholics. May we come to reflect on the depth of law that Jesus instructs to us today. May we, like so many others, respond to the call of God, and become a community of faith that yearns to exist inside and outside the four walls of our chapel.
Every single one of these fleshed out instructions deals with, above all, the love in our day to day relationships. They call for the loving of others in a dramatic, dignified, practical and holy way. The instructions are filled with a meaning that respects the humanity, dignity and temple that each and every person is. That is why in today’s gospel Jesus says that it is not enough to simply not kill, but you must not get angry or insult or falsely accuse someone to not break that law. Anything that hurts the relationship with another is not the Gospel, the instruction, of Christ.
As a community of faith, we are called to go beyond the mere laws and extend a hand of love. We are called to be a community that welcomes, that forms, and includes. We are called to be a community that extends true Christian love to everyone. Not just the people we know the best, but to every single person. The stranger in the pew, the annoying person that sits behind us in class, or the homeless person on the street. Christian love has no boarders. Our faith life is not contained within these four walls. By it’s very nature, faith extends to all areas of our life and desires to be lived in this world.
As we gather as a community of faith today, may we come with an open mind and heart to reflect on the depth and sincerity of our mission as Catholics. May we come to reflect on the depth of law that Jesus instructs to us today. May we, like so many others, respond to the call of God, and become a community of faith that yearns to exist inside and outside the four walls of our chapel.
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