Today we heard a rather long text from the Gospel of St. Mathew. Jesus spoke to the people who followed the Jewish law and lived in the Jewish culture of that time which was highly influenced by the Greek, Roman and the near East culture, customs and traditions. The reason for this cultural interactiin and integratiin വാസ് actually the occupation of the foreigners.
Jesus speaks about the law that is to be fulfilled. He warns and reminds about things which his followers should do. His words are partly frightening and partially pleasing.
Eye for Eye and Ear for Ear was the normal Jewish norm of behaviour. In such a behaviour and law there was no room for mercy and love. They demanded justice in which there is no human touch of love or mercy which in the context of today’s technical possibilities a computer or robot could analyse and decide. Jesus actually wants to keep tradition, do justice, obey the law and keep order; but Jesus is fully against the manner they interpreted the law and the mode they kept the order and maintained the tradition.
Jesus affirms his position against killing, divorce, swearing and anger in the name of God.
During the period of Jesus men could give a certificate of divorce and dismiss their wives which disturbed and distorted a normal family life. It is unacceptable because this way of divorcing the life partner had neither any human foundation nor foundations of natural law. Jesus prohibited divorce in order to protect women and family.
Fornication was a reason for divorce during the time of Jesus which Jesus accepted because Jesus considered the mutual ട്രസ്റ്റ് and coherence of the family very important. Infidelity was a reason for separation. Although it was not desired one was forced to do it. In order to avoid such cases Jesus told: „You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell“ (Mt.27-30).
In the Decalogue there is the command: You shall not kill. This law is practiced not only by the Jews, but also by everywhere by different people, nations, culture and by followers of different religions. There are religious communities who do not kill even animals and live vegetarian. But at the same time we experience unjust murder in war, terror and abortion. Capital punishment is another form of murder which needs a careful attention and evaluation. According to Jesus we are not supposed to kill anyone. We should not kill in words, thought, or do any offence against anyone nor support any sort of killing.
Jesus forbid to get angry too. Getting angry is considered equal to killing. Anger is a sign of less respect and it can cause vengeance, retribution and enmity. Therefore Jesus considers anger equal to murder. Jesus speaks about the law that is to be fulfilled. He warns and reminds about things which his followers should do. His words are partly frightening and partially pleasing. Jesus demands complete non violence in words deeds and thought.
The demand of Jesus seems to be hard, but true and practical. The careless and uncharitable dealing with the fellow human being and thoughtless, rash and imprudent words and deeds create many problems. According to Jesus love is the norm to interpret law. Love of God and love of the fellow human beings inside the family and over the boundaries of family and friends make life beautiful, harmonious and meaningful. An old story of two monks will make the theme more clear.
Once two monks got into dispute. They could not agree to disagree. Each felt to be right. Finally they brought the matter to the Abbot to mediate and establish justice. The Abbot appealed a days time to think and promised them to give an answer next morning. The next day the Abbot called both to him and gave his answer telling: „in the hell there is justice, in heaven there is the reign of mercy and on earth there is suffering and cross.” The story means that a justice which we could imagine according to our standard of knowledge may not be the norm for God. Our understanding can be even against the spirit that God wants to spread. It can be even harmful for human well being. Therefore a so-called justice is the style in hell. The norm for God is love. But in our day today life we struggle to practice love which crates suffering and cross. Suffering and cross are normal for every one in its dailey life. The suffering and cross for the sake of love will establish the reign of God which is our Christian mandate from Jesus Christ.
The message for this day may be summarised in two themes: first, there is no divorce in the reign of God. That means we should learn to live harmoniously in the given situation. Second, Non violence in its full sense is the spirit of the people of the reign of God. Non violence should be practiced in deed, words and thought. God bless you!
Fr. Joseph Pandiappallil MCBS