Five Distortions
Friday of the First Week of Lent
Matthew 5:20-26
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022726.cfm
Jesus is calling us to complete and full transformation. His message is not strictly about belief in the literal sense. It’s the transformation that’s important. The belief can be a means to that transformation, but belief, in and of itself, is not enough. The heart of this transformation is something that is ultimately practical, but it’s our fallen nature that sees it as impractical. We are living in a distorted reality. Jesus calls out five such distortions:
You think that the religious leaders and those knowledgeable about scripture are righteous, but Jesus says your righteousness must surpass your righteousness you’ve associated with them.
You think that you should not kill for you’ll be liable for judgement, but Jesus says anyone who feels anger for another is liable for judgement.
You think you're a realist by recognizing the shortcomings of others, but Jesus says such actions are deserving of punishment and judgement.
You think that turning to the church and sacraments will give you forgiveness, but Jesus says that you should first go to one you’ve wronged to seek forgiveness before you come to the altar.
You think that you must sue and confront to prove that you’re right, but Jesus says that you should make amends with others and settle outside of court.
Jesus is calling us to see the world differently. Salvation is not something to be earned, but it is something for us to reveal. It’s already here. We find salvation by living into it. We find a piece of salvation when we stop comparing. We find a piece of salvation when we go beyond the sin and address the root cause of it. We find a piece of salvation when we stop judging and belittling others. We find a piece of salvation when we go beyond our religious traditions of sanctification and actually seek forgiveness directly from one another. We find a piece of salvation when we stop fighting to be right and make amends with others. We propagate damnation for ourselves and for others when we do not do these things. We shouldn’t use our religion to justify our wrongdoing, but our faith should continually transform us to loving more. Salvation is through the grace that comes from the ever-expansion of self-acceptance, repentance, forgiveness, mercy, and love.
