+ The readings for mass today are startling. The
first reading tells of torrential rains – that hadn’t fallen on that particular
spot of land for three years – that started out just a few minutes earlier as a
little gray cloud over the sea no bigger than a man’s hand. This manifestation
records the mighty power of God to do what he wills, when he wills. It is also
important to know that the rain was the result of the prayer of the people
whose agricultural and economic life way virtually put on standstill until the
rains indeed fell.
In another place Job says: the
Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord. But in his
own experience, he can also report that when he gives back again it comes in
torrents of blessings and joys beyond our imagining: this the “fist-cloud!”
The gospel passage shows Jesus
in a righteous rant about the quality of our lives: if our main joy in life is
seeing how many corners we can cut today – just eeking by the barebones, basic
and fundamental supernatural principles (such as the scribes and Pharisees were
accustomed to doing) we actually needn’t bother at all. Our spiritual lives are
dead as can be if we do this.
Jesus begins a torrent of
truth telling when he actually replaces the Law of Moses with his own take on
each prescription. Why is he doing this? Who does he think he is? Well, he God!
He is Word of God! He is Law of God: which is the LAW OF LOVE! period.
And so when we try to cut
corners, we are “snipping away at our own noses!”
For example: the law of Moses
says: you shall not kill, BUT I SAY – even if you just grow angry with your
brother you are guilty of sin; the law of Moses says: He who calls his brother
a “Fool” or a “Renegade” is in effect murdering him, because his name, and reputation
equal the man – and you will end up in eternal separation from life and love.
So, therefore, when you pray
at home, when you pray in church – and you remember any of your brethren who
have something against you – go first and be reconciled with your brother or
else you are wasting your time praying or worshiping – because the purity of
our love, and our forgiveness is the measure of our prayer and worship.
Is he serious? Quite! Unless
we begin to show that we are remorseful, sorry and willing to change for the
better – then we will stay locked up in the prison of our own minds and hearts:
and that can be a very terrifying place to be!
Jesus, the Person, not just
the concept or doctrine, is the one to listen to and to follow and not only to
imitate – but to activate in our baptized souls, by frequent and heartfelt
prayer and worship – give him the time of day – and he will give you the time
of your LIFE!
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