Sirach 15: 15-20
Psalm 119: 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
1 Corinthians 2: 6-10
Matthew 5: 17-37
Here is a reflection by Father. James Martin, S.J.:
Today's Gospel: Stop being mean.
For some reason many Christians seem to have a hard time with today's Gospel. It annoys some people when they read or hear what Jesus is saying--primarily because it is an activity that almost all of us engage in. It's also an activity that no one seems terribly bothered by.
But it's pretty clear what Jesus is telling us: Stop calling people names. Stop judging. Stop being mean. If you don't believe me, here are his words: "But I say to you,whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna."
Scholars say that when we hear Aramaic words like "raqa" (or "rhaka"), which means an idiot or imbecile, we are hearing the precise words that came from Jesus's lips--remembered by his hearers, passed on by his followers and carefully recorded by the evangelists. Other examples are "Talitha cum" (Little one, arise) and "Ephphatha" (Be opened). So this is an especially "authentic" saying, coming right from Jesus's lips. As such, it demands our particular attention, and adherence.
How many times have you called someone a name. (Fool? Idiot? Heretic?) How many times have you mocked someone or made fun of them? Well, Jesus says you're liable to hell if you continue to do that. Basically, stop being mean.
And for those who say that Jesus had a sharp tongue and called people names ("brood of vipers," "whitened sepulchres" and so on), that is true. But unless you're the sinless Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, stop judging and stop using sharp names to insult, denigrate, dismiss, correct or mock other people. And, by the way, this is not me speaking--it's Jesus.
Stop being mean.
The topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Morality and Conscience Formation
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