2 Corinthians 3:15-4:1, 3-6, Ps 85:9-14, Matthew 5:20-26

          I think, these two readings are a great example of how God writes straight with crooked lines. What I mean is that the readings are not only written by two different authors but they are addressed to different audiences and for different purposes. Yet for us today there is a strong unified message once we take a closer look.

          In Paul we are reading a letter to non-Jewish Christians in Corinth defending his view of the Gospel against other religious preachers who are out promoting their own version of Christianity. Matthew on the other hand is talking to Jewish Christians for whom he wants to emphasize how Jesus does not abandon the Law but strengthens it.

For us Matthew’s Gospel presents a very strong statement by Jesus saying,  don’t think that coming to Church is more important than your everyday responsibilities. Be sure you are attending to the relationships you have with others before you presume to try to strengthen your relationship with God.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he emphasizes how the Spirit of God works in us to transform us into God’s image. Just as God intended to transform the world with the creation of the earth so he seeks to transform us through the action of Jesus.

Both authors are talking about a conversion, a change of heart. Paul talks about the veil that prevents some people from seeing God. Notice it is a veil over their hearts, not a veil of the mind but a veil that affects the deepest part of us. This is like Matthew who says it isn’t only the murder of a person that separates someone from God but simply anger at your brother. Wrongdoing isn’t just the action we do wrong, more importantly, it is the emotional state that motivates the action. Not only must we attend to everyday emotions that can create the rifts between people, he mentions calling someone a name or labeling people, but it is that our deepest emotional level determines who we are and how we relate to others and therefore also how we relate to God.

Matthew identifies that change of heart, that conversion, with the act of being reconciled to another person. To be reconciled is a change in how we feel. The kind of feelings we have about certain people in general or individuals, like family members. These are the kind of feelings that underlie our outlook everyday, how we see the stuff of our life. It is not a matter of law or the courts but one of human relationships and how we feel about what goes on in our life. To look at these feelings and bring about a change here is also the kind of change that will bring us closer to God. Because we are admitting to ourselves what is really happening below the surface. Getting this close to God is about dealing with emotions, letting go of feelings that are part of who we are. Matthew suggests being that honest with ourselves can feel very threatening, like being closed in. He says, like being thrown into prison. It also entails a commitment that could seem very risky much like something that would cost you your last penny. Are we ready to be that honest with ourselves, to go “all in?”