Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:17-37
“Keeping It Real”
Let’s face it: Today’s gospel is harsh! We could say it is radical, not as the term is used today, but in its actual meaning, which is “at the root.”
We can take a quick look at the world around us and notice how superficially we are living. The pain of taking a deeper dive into the realities of our lives can feel overwhelming, so we choose to play it safe and only deal with what’s exposed at the tip of the iceberg. We don’t want to make waves or stir up trouble, so a lukewarm, non-committal stance becomes our way of living. This same thing can happen in our spiritual life. We can look at the letter of the law, even memorize it, and more importantly, we can tell others about it, expecting them to obey, without risking the journey of our own self-awareness and interior growth.
How necessary for us to lead an examined life! To understand that first and foremost, we are beloved sons and daughters of God, made in the image and likeness of the Creator of the Universe. But we are also flawed and sinful human beings. Lent is just around the corner, and it is the perfect time to start looking into our own depths, seeking to understand better our thought patterns, motives, values, judgements, biases, and desires, whether good or bad. These are the roots of our human and sometimes sinful behavior. Befriending these parts of ourselves is the first step toward conversion, turning back toward God. The more we can make peace with our hidden, unexamined selves, the more we can “keep it real.” Now go back and give this gospel a second chance!
Sr. Michele Vincent Fisher, CSFN
