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Morning Devotion for the Season of Easter
April 26, 2024
The Invitatory
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 5:27-37
‘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 lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones
On one level I feel the tug on my inner nascent lawyer, looking for all the shadings in language to avoid the judgment that one’s behavior has been contrary to the strictures of the Torah and/or the Ten Commandments. No doubt this is exactly what the Pharisees engaged in, given their rigid adherence to specific behavior prescriptions arising from their interpretation of the ambiguities in the Torah. It is an incipient pattern of human behavior to avoid responsibility. Unfortunately, this avoidance often produces even less honesty with oneself and, therefore, acceptance of responsibility for actions taken and a dramatic reduction in being open to forgiveness, reconciliation and amendment of life.
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive " is a very famous quote from Sir Walter Scott's play "Marmion." This quote is frequently used to describe the destructive consequences of lies and their impact on people’s lives. When we act dishonestly we are initiating problems, and launch a domino structure of complications, which will eventually run out of control. We become ensnared in it. More destructive are the points of distinction that we use to excuse our behavior. This is exactly what Jesus anticipates when he notes the behaviors that lead inexorably to the sin itself; for example, looking at a woman implicates the man as an adulterer. The actions that precede the breach of the commandment or the law are countless. It is virtually impossible to avoid such a breach. Worse, though, is the way in which we first deceive ourselves and then attempt to exonerate ourselves, thus avoiding being honest with ourselves and with God.
We often read Jesus’ statements in this passage and other similar ones,“You have heard that it was said…” followed by “But I say to you…,” as contrasting, or even replacing, prior Jewish teachings with his own. Let us exercise some greater care in such contrasts. Jesus neither erases nor discounts the teachings of the law (“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law.”). He employs the traditional teachings on murder, adultery, and prayer as essential grounds for building his case for righteousness. Using familiar teachings, Jesus expands and intensifies them, extending them into almost every area of life.
Jesus’ view of the law is that behavior, emotions and attitudes fall within its scope. Jesus connects the dots from outward acts to internal orientation, from murder to anger, from adultery to lust. It is one thing to behave rightly. It is another thing entirely for one’s heart to be oriented toward love.
Jesus offers a broader ethic, a reign of God ethic. The righteousness of the kingdom of God is more than following rules. It requires and empowers a life surrendered to God and neighbor. God in Jesus Christ re-orders the relationships of this world and re-orients the internal landscapes of our lives. We proclaim a God present in our lives, and not a keeper of check-lists; but, rather to offer a life deep and wide, abundantly. Jesus offers a new way of life, not rejecting the tradition, but building upon it. It is a way of life that demands more and promises more. It is an abundant life.
Prayer for Guidance
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in the darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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