I haven't killed anyone, so I'm ok, right? - reflex on Matt 5:20-26

Were you required to memorize the 10 Commandments asa student? They seem simple enough, and judging ourselves by those precepts canmake us think that we are doing ok. “Thou shalt not kill”? I haven’t killedanybody. So I’m ok on that one, right?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus traces this commandment rightback to the depths of every human being and helps us see that God wants Truthto reign over even the subtle movements of the heart. Most of us are not guiltyof murder, but the violent movement that would take another’s life is alreadypresent in the anger, the spiteful word, or the evil intention in the heart ofthe murderer. It is our INTENTION that drives our words and actions. It is ourintention that determines their value. It is the intention deep within theheart that God alone can judge.

Jesus points out that anger, name-calling, and givingothers a reason to have something against us are enough to plant the dark seedsof resentment and vindictiveness and, yes, even murder. Jesus calls us toreject vengeance (a demand for “justice”) and work toward reconciliation (anact of MERCY), so that our offering at the altar comes from a pure heart and isfree of any shadows of selfishness. God wants our whole heart, and everymovement within it.

This is a new teaching. The norm of the Old Covenantwas justice: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, injury for injury (but notmore evil than one had received; this balance was legislated!). But Jesus nowtells us: this is not enough. Because in taking justice upon ourselves ratherthan leaving it to God, we never really restore justice but rather create newinjustices and keep anger and enmity alive within us. When we focus on “justice,”our hearts are narrowed and darkened and hardened. In contrast, focusing onmercy and forgiveness opens our hearts to the light of God’s grace and love.

In this teaching, Jesus brings a new level offreedom, made possible in the New Covenant by the transforming power of grace inthe Holy Spirit. This creative freedom calls us to selflessness, toforgiveness, and even to loving those who hate us! Grace allows us to betransformed completely in Christ, so that we can do what would otherwise beimpossible to our fallen human natures: we can respond to the eternal call ofthe Father and turn back to Him with our whole hearts, in complete freedom.