Sermons

February 5, 2012                                                                                             Matthew 5:17-48

“A People of Salt and Light:  Jesus’ Model for Community –

Jesus’ Vision of Right Relationships”

No two ways about it, this section of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” contains hard teachings, and in some cases nearly impossibly high ideals.

And yet through one or another he holds each of us accountable for the quality of the relationships we have with one another.

If that weren’t hard enough, this section ends with a command to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

But please don’t throw your hands up in the air and cry “I give up!  I quit!  I can’t do this!”

The Greek term translated “perfect” means “goal” or “purpose,” and has to do with becoming what was intended, which includes a recognition that we’re not there yet even as we strive to live up to our God-given purpose of being beloved children formed in the image of our Creator and seeking to reflect the Divine One’s nature and purpose.

The focus of this morning’s section of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” is on justice and right relationships with one another, on striving to follow the Almighty One’s commandments, and on serving together in God’s Realm.

And it’s more than about what not to do.

It’s possible to abide by the letter of the law and still cause chaos in the lives of others.

We can do business in ways that are completely legal, but that leave our workers destitute and unhealthy, and that ravage our environment.

It’s possible to lead nations and organizations in ways that are legally sanctioned, but that serve only ourselves and leave others broken.

It’s easy to apply the law as a weapon, to learn to use it with lethal accuracy, and to manipulate the world to our own agendas with it.

This is true of religious as well as secular law.

That’s why Jesus moves the law from the realm of the letter to the realm of the heart.

It can only give us life and bring people together when following it springs from our deepest beliefs and core values.

And so Jesus preached a radical message of not only upholding the letter of the legal code, but also considering the law’s intent of upholding the dignity and humanity of our companions in this world.

Thus, we aren’t just to avoid physically killing.  

We’re also to avoid destroying the dignity and reputation of another.

When we seek life and wholeness, we’ll endeavor not to degrade another with our angry words – be they insults, gossip, or “back-stabbing.”

Instead, we’ll do everything we can to recognize the humanity of the other, and seek to be reconciled if at all possible.

I’m married to a divorced man, so I’m particularly sensitive to how close to home Jesus’ teachings about adultery and divorce come to many of us.

We aren’t just to avoid infidelity to one’s spouse.  

We’re to endeavor to honor our marriage vows because our spouse is one of God’s beloved children, too.

In Jesus’ context women were regarded as property of their husbands who could be discarded like trash when they were finished with them.

Jesus teaches we’re to value our spouses as human beings and beloved children of God who deserve our respect and care, even and perhaps most particularly when the marriage ends in divorce.

But, it gets even more personal than this.

Jesus also calls us to uphold the dignity and humanity of our own bodies and souls.

Rather than being slaves to our appetites and addictions we’re to endeavor to discipline or train our minds and bodies through transformative spiritual practices like fasting, prayer and sacrificial service.

We’re encouraged to value our minds and bodies enough to seek life-giving ways of being.

Rather than allow our reputations and self-worth to be undermined by any dishonesty we’re to be people of integrity who speak truthfully and stand by our word.

Whatever our particular relationship issue or challenge, it’s an opportunity to pray for the powerful and transformative grace to change – not others, but ourselves and our circumstances.

Jesus knows we’ll mess up sometimes.  That’s a given.

His encouragement is to try not to mess up, and to get up and try again when we do mess up in our relationships.

The law that Jesus preached in his “Sermon on the Mount” invites us to allow our hearts to be the place where the law does its work.

When our mission is to follow Jesus into this “living by heart” we’ll discover that the intentions behind the law lead us to life, and teach us to be life-bringers with everyone we encounter.

Princeton University Professor Cornel West admonishes us to “never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.”

How we treat the widow, the orphan, the spouse, and everyone else are reflections of how we actively show our love for God.

Through this section of his “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus challenges God’s beloved children, imperfect, still being formed and shaped, needing grace though we may be, that as his disciples our mission and calling is to be salt and light, seasoning and illuminating this weary world with our Creator’s love.

 

To God be the glory.

Amen.