Fr Marco Lazzaron
esus speaks to us about growth in faith, about a maturation that arises from the passage from law to grace—that is, a transition from living reality in a superficial way to knowing how to live deeply the relationship with God, with ourselves, and with our neighbour. Jesus uses a series of antitheses between the ancient commandments and His way of re-proposing them. “Jesus does not simply give importance to disciplinary observance and outward conduct. He goes to the root of the Law, focusing above all on intention and therefore on the human heart, from which our good or evil actions originate” (Pope Francis; cfr. also the First Reading).
There are usually two extreme we are at risk in our lives. If we live the extreme of the law, we risk suffocating the human person and preventing growth; on the other hand, if we live in hatred of norms, we end up in a world of confusion and anarchy, where one believes oneself to be free by doing whatever one wants. But Jesus does not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, revealing its heart—which is to safeguard love—and giving us the grace to live it.
First antithesis. It was said: you shall not kill; but I say to you: whoever becomes angry with his brother, whoever harbours resentment, is potentially a murderer. The Apostle John will affirm something striking: “Whoever does not love his brother is a murderer” (1 Jn 3:15). Thus, whoever does not love, kills. Becoming angry, saying “stupid,” saying “fool” is a crescendo of wickedness that leads to the fire of Gehenna (the place where the rubbish was burned). Jesus is saying: if you despise and insult your brother, you turn your life into garbage, you throw it into the trash.
Second antithesis. You have heard that it was said: you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you: if you look at a woman to desire her, you have already committed adultery. Jesus is saying: if you look in order to desire, with a predatory attitude, to conquer, seduce, and possess—if you reduce her to an object to be taken or collected—you commit an offence against the greatness of that person, made in the image and likeness of God.
Third antithesis. You have learnt how it was said: You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord. But I say to you: do not swear at all. Let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no. From the prohibition of swearing, Jesus arrives at the prohibition of lying. We sometimes lie about others to diminish them because it is the only way we have to feel better about ourselves. Sometimes we lie about ourselves because we want to appear better than we are. Sometimes we lie because we think it is a better solution to avoid discussions or problems, even at the cost of getting others into trouble. But a lie is always a lie, and whatever we build on it is destined to collapse. Let us therefore strive to live in truth and to always speak the truth, even if it costs us suffering. Let us fight for the love of truth, and God will fight with us!
PRAYER
Grant us, Lord, a gentle and generous heart, like that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, like that of your saints; a loving heart, which from your charity draws springs of charity for our neighbour, and from piety and service to our neighbour, service and piety for You. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Paul VI).