by Fr. Tommy Lane
Jesus said on one occasion, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus leading us to a more abundant life. Jesus said to his disciples, “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:20) He wanted them to have a more abundant life than the scribes and Pharisees. What was not so abundant or lacking in the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees? Their lives had over-emphasis on the Jewish Law. There was even a Jewish opinion that for the first three hours of every day God sat and studied the Law! (Babylonian Talmud: b. Abod. Zar. 3B / b. Abod. Zar. 1:1, I.2.HHH) The scribes and Pharisees had placed emphasis on the external observance of the Law, but Jesus said a better way to live is to love God and neighbor with the heart, not just external observance of the Law. Loving with the heart, and not only being concerned about breaking rules, is going beyond the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. It is having life more abundantly. That is why Jesus said he came to fulfill the Law (Matt 5:17), which is another way of saying he came to fulfill the Old Testament. Since Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Law, Jesus and not the Law is the way to salvation. Since Jesus is the way to salvation, he wants you to enjoy even now the blessings of his kingdom, not to have to wait until heaven. In order to enjoy the blessings of his kingdom now, in the Gospel today (Matt 5:17-37) and next Sunday (Matt 5:38-48), Jesus takes examples of Old Testament Law and shows how to live it with the heart. That is what brings true peace, and even now a share in the kingdom of God.
The Law forbade taking the life of another, but Jesus said anger towards someone is also wrong (Matt 5:21-26). In other words, attitudes towards another that kill the life in that person are also wrong because it is not only bullets that kill. Harsh judgments, cynicism, negativity, and hating others kill life. If someone has hurt us, forgiveness may take a great effort, but Jesus expects us to break the cycle of hurt and put love into life. Jesus did overturn the tables of the moneychangers because they were turning the temple into a marketplace, but he was never violent to a person. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in Gethsemane, Peter drew a sword, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. (John 18:10) Jesus said to Peter to put his sword back in its scabbard and that all who take the sword will perish by the sword (Matt 26:52). Jesus touched the man’s ear and healed him (Luke 22:49). The Catechism of the Catholic Church says
Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being (2258)
I know of a woman who was advised by her doctor to abort her baby. She decided not to abort the baby. The baby was fine and is now a grown man. I know him because I taught him. He studied to be a priest and he is now a priest. The Catechism also says
Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person—among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. (2270)
Love does not kill life. Love wants to care for life. Jesus came that we may have life more abundantly, and that we would love with the heart, and our righteousness exceed that of the scribe and Pharisees.
Jesus gives other examples of loving with the heart in today’s Gospel. Jesus said the Law forbids adultery but Jesus said this also refers to what is in one’s heart (Matt 5:27-30). There is a saying that broken promises lead to broken lives. Jesus wants more for people’s marriage than keeping promises. Remaining faithful means loving one’s spouse with one’s heart and thoughts. The loving fidelity of a husband and wife to each other reflects the loving faithfulness of God towards us. That is the abundance of life that Jesus wants now for those who follow him, the righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees, so that even now we can enjoy something of Jesus’ kingdom and not have to wait until heaven.
Another example Jesus gives of loving with the heart concerns taking oaths (Matt 5:33-37). It was said not to swear a false oath. Jesus said, “let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes.’” On another occasion Jesus said he is the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6) and that the truth will make us free (John 8:32). Unfortunately, all around us we see truth being manipulated for the sake of winning some argument. That is the opposite to the martyrs. The martyrs remained faithful to the truth even if it meant giving their lives for Jesus. Those on the side of Jesus cannot manipulate the truth because Jesus is the truth and if someone manipulates the truth it damages our relationship with Jesus. Being truthful is loving with the heart, living like Jesus, and is another way to have a more abundant life and righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees.
The scribes and Pharisees had placed emphasis on the external observance of the Law, but Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Law and the way to salvation. He wants you to enjoy even now the blessings of his kingdom, not to have to wait until heaven. Loving with the heart brings true peace and even now a share in the kingdom of God.
© Fr. Tommy Lane 2020
This homily was delivered near Regensburg while on a research sabbatical.
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Related Homilies: Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it 2013
Jesus completed and perfected the Law and can complete and perfect us 2014
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