What readings we have for mass today! The main theme of the readings for mass today seems to be focused on the need to follow the commandments, and not just avoid the most extreme forms of these sins, but also the smaller ones as well. For an example, Jesus compares anger (which most of us have from time to time) with the more serious sin of murder. He also compared looking at a woman (a man too?) with lust, to the more serious sin of adultery.
The entire readings for mass today, taken together is really a shock if you think about the modern world we live in. Besides the low morals that many people have today that we are all trying to cope with, there are the “lesser sins” that Jesus mentions in today’s gospel. So many Catholics, especially ex-Catholics, get upset over all the “rules” of the Catholic church. They call it Catholic laws, Catholic rules or “Catholic guilt”. The Catholic church is too strict, so they say. It’s outdated and hasn’t kept up with modern times. Really? Jesus compares anger to murder in today’s gospel, what on earth would he say about abortion?
Jesus said if you even call someone a bad name, you will be liable to Gehenna (hell). Speaking of that, there are also many Catholics who believe there really isn’t such a thing as hell. If God is a loving God, then then he surely wouldn’t send anyone to hell. He would love them too much. Well, the first reading for mass doesn’t explain it this way. It doesn’t say that God sends people to hell: “He has set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given to him.”
We choose our place in the afterlife, by the many small choices we make during our lives, and according to Jesus, even the smallest infractions of the commandments count, “not the smallest letter, or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law.”
The Catholic church isn’t the one who has imposed “rules”, laws or guilt on people. These are the rules that Christ laid down, in pretty clear language in today’s gospel. When you read the gospel today, can’t you feel the passion with which Christ spoke? His words sound like they are filled with the Holy Spirit, yes the Holy Spirit, which is also the Spirit of truth. There is much truth in the Lord’s words today.
What are we to do? How are we to live in our modern society without coming across as judgmental, old fashioned, behind the times or too strict on people? The culture that many Catholics are immersed in today, is a strong influence on our sense of what is right and wrong. It is going against the tide, or counter-cultural, to live by the truth of the gospel that Christ taught us in the scriptures today. But, Jesus said that “whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” This is a very good thing to remember when our Catholic values seem to be outnumbered in the secular world we live in.
Our modern culture is like drops of water that attempts to water down the gospel truths that we live by, to wear down the foundation of rock that our lives are built on. It is hard to remain unaffected by the overwhelming majority of those who do not believe in living the harder truths that Jesus spoke of in the gospel today, even within the church itself. Have you ever heard of someone receiving three annulments on their marriages and then marrying a fourth time in the church? This is rare, but it does happen.
The readings for mass today speak of heaven, hell and purgatory. Christ talks about the reality of hell, when he said we will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Then he talks about purgatory when he told us to settle with our opponent (those we have harmed) on the way. Otherwise he will hand you over to the judge, then to the guard and then be thrown in prison. This is the words in scripture that are the basis of our Catholic beliefs in purgatory, “Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
But, there is a bit of good news, because the second reading for mass tells us what heaven is like: “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepare for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.” We sing such a beautiful hymn at mass sometimes called, “Eye Has Not Seen”, that describes our longing for heaven and inability to picture it. It is based on these verses in scripture. These verses in scripture and the beautiful hymn we sing at mass are a reminder, that we do not seek temporary, or fleeting pleasures.We seek happiness in eternal life.
Why should we settle for things that do not last? Our lives are so short. Before you know it, our days on earth will be over. Eternal life in heaven is hard to picture but Jesus, and numerous other people throughout the bible, have tried to tell us it will be worth it. The struggle will be over and we will each be given the crown of life.
Sunday Mass Readings:
Sir 15:15-20 / Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 / 1 Cor 2:6-10 / Mt 5:17-31
