Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is un fair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
Frank Sinatra at the end of his career sang the song, ” My Way”. Our first reading from Ezekiel the prophet is saying that there is only one way and that is not your way but God’s. If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Ezekiel is reminding us that God’s way is the only way.
Please notice the children in the above labyrinth. Some are going this way and some are going another way. Some are following and some are going their own way. The children are playing a game but the life consequences of taking the wrong path and going in different directions can be frustrating.
Ezekiel is saying that the straight path is the best. It is the simplest path . We all tend to complicate our lives at various times. We turn this way and that just like the children in the labyrinth above. No one is exempt. The good among us or the bad all have choices that are the wrong path. No matter how good we are in life we can always fall into the labyrinth of sin.
What happens?
We are frustrated and the elusive happiness we seek cannot be found.
How do we get out?
In our Gospel reading Jesus is seemingly setting a higher standard, but in reality He is just simplifying our lives. Jesus says, I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. The crowd listening must have thought that I could never be that holy. They also must have thought that there is not chance for me. Jesus , opens the door by saying and explaining that outward holiness and pomp are superficial .
At one time I was a member of a Charismatic Prayer Group . Our leader was a wonderful Spirit filled man. However, as time grew on he changed. He became more interested in power than the workings of the Holy Spirit. I eventually left the group. Not because of the miracles that occurred and their were many but because the group seemed to move in circles and seemed to all follow the whims of the leader and not what the Spirit directed. When that leader moved out of State the leadership was taken over by a husband and wife. The new leadership took away the labyrinth and set the group in a straight course. This leader eventually became a Deacon and he and his wife raised two sons, one of which is a Priest.
Jesus is asking us to stop turning this way and that way and take the straight road. Jesus has set the new standard of not only superficially following the commandments, but to embrace them with joy and to take that extra step of following the Spirit of those commandments. Not only not to kill but not to hate. Not only not to steal but being generous. Not coveting people or things but loving them. Our path becomes straighter.
The labyrinth’s we make of our lives can quickly be erased. Just take the straight path and following the Spirit of those commandments not just the letter. Happiness is not elusive. Life isn’t that complicated. God’s plan is the best plan.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
