God’s reality

Gospel: Mt 5:17-19

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030624.cfm

Throughout human history, people have sought to understand why we are here. We have sought relationships with each other and relationships with God. We have strived for excellence. We have grown in community and freedom. We have worked through issues and become greater people. We have faced and conquered adversity. We have found ways to get along.

This journey hasn’t always been perfect. We can look to the news and see the ways our world is falling short of the Kingdom of God. We can look to history and find example after example of where and how individuals and civilizations have failed. 

There have always been people striving for a better world; striving to be better people to themselves, others, God, and creation. Even those who have strived fell short of accomplishing it, but there have always been people who have tried. There are always more people trying than not trying. I’d argue that all of us are striving, but we get distorted views of how to accomplish it. Somewhere along the way, these distortions become our reality. 

Today’s gospel reflects on this striving and humanity’s growth in relationship to God. The prophets and the law pointed people in a direction. That direction was then more fully revealed through Jesus. Jesus confronted skewed views during his time as he and others were actively engaged in building the Kingdom.  For us, it can be difficult to distinguish what is Kingdom building and what is a distortion of it.

Let us pray. God, help us to distinguish the difference between your reality and how we skew that reality. Help us grow to see the world through your lens. Lead us to fulfill your mission and to carry on your living legacy in our time. Help us to grow in love of our neighbor and of you. Amen.