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Gospel: Mt. 5. 20-37
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you,
whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment.
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
Anything more is from the evil one.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Some of you may know that I was once a third-grade teacher in Newark through a program called, Teach for America. My school was one of the lowest performing public schools in the country.
At times, it was difficult getting my students to focus. There were days when it felt like they’d rather watch paint dry on the wall than learn about multiplication or division.
But one tactic that always got their attention was playing a game. And for some reason, a class favorite was Simon Says.
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I’ve sure most of us have played it. The leader of the game is named, “Simon.”
Simon issues a series of commands, always beginning with, “Simon says.”
“Simon says, ‘Touch your nose.’”
“Simon says, ‘Touch your shoulder.’”
Whenever a person follows a command without the leader saying, “Simon says,” first, then that person is out.
It was funny watching my students play. They were hyper aware of their neighbors, policing each other to make sure that no one broke the rules. Often, when someone knew that he or she was out, they’d try to stay in the game anyway.
“Mr. K, he’s lying!” … “She’s cheating!” … “No, I’m not!” they’d shout.
Honesty meant less than victory.
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Maybe you’ve been there as a kid, too. You cheated in a game. Borrowed a neighbor’s answer on a test. Let a lie slip.
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A simple game or a borrowed answer on a test, leads to a humbling insight about humanity: at some point, we all break the rules.
We try to convince ourselves that no one is looking. We give ourselves permission to stay in the game, as it were, even when we know we should be out.
Why can it be so difficult to tell the truth? To let another person win? To do what we should instead of what we want to do?
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The Greek philosopher, Plato, likened the human soul to a charioteer whose task it was to drive two horses. One horse was gentle and mild, obedient to our commands. The other was wild, untamed, and rebellious.
The name of the first horse is Reason. The second is Passion.
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Reason and Passion live in constant conflict within us.
For example, Reason would say, “I didn’t do what Simon says. I should sit down now. I’m out.” Passion would say, “Nobody saw you. Stay in the game!”
Or if someone strikes you across the cheek, Reason would say, “Take a deep breath. Back down. They may be stronger than you!”
Even, “Forgive them.”
Passion would say, “Hit ‘em hard! Smack ‘em back!”
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It’s our passions that Jesus is addressing in today’s Gospel. It’s not enough for Christians to know what is right; we also must do what is right.
It’s not enough for us to refrain from slapping a person. We should never wish to hurt them.
It’s not enough to refrain from impurity. We should never think impurely.
It’s not enough to refrain from dishonesty. We should never consider telling a lie.
It’s not enough to know what is right. We should always do what is right by following Reason, and listening to our conscience.
As Jesus says, “Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’”
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Such a high standard is impossible to live on our own. We all want to win! We want to stay in the game, as it were, because Reason and Passion are both tugging at our will.
Only Christ can tame them, making them work in harmony for us – not against us.
That interior transformation is a type of death to self, leading us towards that great confession of Saint Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ living in me.”
For Paul, Christ became the charioteer, guiding his Reason and his Passion.
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When do I feel Reason conflicting with Passion? When am I tempted to say, “No one is looking? Or I’ll break the rules and stay in the game, even when I should be out?”
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It might be when I get frustrated with my siblings or my spouse.
When I’m caught in a lie.
When I want something but I know I shouldn’t have it.
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“Simon says. ‘Follow your conscience. Do what is right. Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’”
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(1) 9 acts of human kindness, Pinterest (3) Mrs. Lucy’s Teaching Fun, Buzzle.com (3) SBnation.com
