Homily on Matthew 5:21-26

Matthew 5:21-26

“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder' and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Dear Folks,

Given our current political atmosphere, this one hits close to home for me and I suspect, for many of my friends. I'm not preaching to the choir, I'm preaching to myself.

In today's Gospel from Matthew, Jesus takes us deep into the heart of the law, revealing that true righteousness is not simply a matter of outward actions, but a matter of inner transformation. He challenges us to look beyond the letter of the law and to examine the very root of our thoughts and emotions.

"You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder' and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.'" This is a foundational commandment, a clear prohibition against taking another person's life. But Jesus doesn't stop there. He delves into the underlying causes of violence, the seeds of anger and hatred that fester in our hearts.

"But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire." Jesus connects anger, insult, and contempt to the same root as murder. He reveals that these seemingly lesser offenses are, in fact, expressions of the same destructive impulse.

This is a radical teaching. It challenges us to confront the anger and resentment we harbor in our hearts, to recognize that these emotions are not harmless, but deeply damaging. Jesus is not just concerned with our actions; He is concerned with our hearts. He wants to purify us from the inside out.

"So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift." This is a powerful image. It highlights the importance of reconciliation. Our relationship with God is inextricably linked to our relationships with others. We cannot offer a sincere gift to God while harboring resentment or unresolved conflict with our brothers and sisters.

"Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny." This is a call to immediate reconciliation. We are to seek peace and forgiveness before it's too late. We are to resolve conflict before it escalates, before it leads to further damage and division.

Jesus is not just giving us practical advice for avoiding legal trouble. He is revealing the urgency of reconciliation, the importance of seeking peace and forgiveness in our relationships. He is reminding us that unresolved conflict can imprison us, trapping us in a cycle of bitterness and resentment.

This Gospel reading challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we harboring anger or resentment toward anyone? Are we holding grudges or refusing to forgive? Are we quick to insult or condemn others?

Jesus calls us to a higher standard, a standard of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. He calls us to break the cycle of violence and hatred, to purify our hearts from the inside out. He calls us to seek peace with our brothers and sisters, to reconcile before it's too late.

Let us remember that true righteousness is not just about avoiding outward sin, but about cultivating inner purity. Let us strive to be peacemakers, to seek reconciliation, and to love one another as Christ has loved us. May we, by God's grace, be transformed from the inside out, becoming instruments of His peace and love in the world. Amen.

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you.  Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Love,

+Br'er Abbot