THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW

Mt 5:20-26

In today’s gospel, Jesus leads us deeper into the intent and sense of the law and its external practice. He accepts the Mosaic Law but deepen it. While the law merely forbids killing, Jesus calls our attention to its roots in the human heart where it begins as anger. He reminds us that our Christian faith is not based only on the letter of the law, seeking to obey it by doing exactly what is required.

 In this part of the gospel Jesus is adding to the law a new element which is the "Interiority" part of it. For Jesus, the exterior part of our actions is only a revelation of what we have built for long in our Hearts. What comes out is the fruit of the interiority. Jesus is saying that one cannot commit murder unless it was built in his heart in the form of anger. This is why he says: You have heard that you shall not kill, but I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. To observe fully the commandments of the Lord, it is not sufficient to avoid sinful actions. It is necessary to uproot from within oneself everything which in, one way or other, can lead to those actions.

 Jesus tells his followers, and us today that holiness needs to be based not only on the obedience of God's law, but on a recognition of the purpose and the foundation of the law. Most of us are inclined to stay only on the level of external action without examining its roots within us. Jesus tries to stretch our minds to imagine creative ways to obey God’s will, expressing our love for God, always keeping in mind the image of God, of self and of others that is at the root of our actions. Jesus is clear. He challenges us to go beyond our external actions down to their roots in the depth of our being where Love is the Law. He is saying that sin doesn’t just happen; it first grows as a seed in one’s heart.  Unless it is mastered by God’s grace, it grows like a weed and chokes the fruitful vine. Jesus points to the heart as the seat of desire and choice.  Unless forbidden and evil desires are eradicated, the heart will be corrupted.