BACKGROUND
The Sermon on the Mount may be found in three chapters of Matthew’s Gospel, Chapters 5, 6, and 7. The Sermon expresses the essence of Jesus’ teaching in regard our relationship to God and neighbor. As we continue our Lenten practices, we take time to really listen to Jesus once more and ponder in our hearts His message of discipleship. Let us pray that we may follow His lead.
SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Judging Others.
Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite,* remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye. MATTHEW 1-8
STOP JUDGING; REMOVE FIRST THE WOODEN BEAM IN YOUR EYE
REFLECTION
By focusing on and judging others, this allows me to excuse myself of much worse. It is important I examine my conscience each day and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness. In removing my own faults and sins I will see more clearly and mercifully how to deal with my brother.
“For as you judge, so you will be judged.” Hold on a minute! Let me check this out! I don’t want to be treated fairly. I want God to treat me better than I deserve. The warning of whatever I measure out will be measured to me is enough to scare the devil out of me.
The Answer to Prayers
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. MATTHEW 7-11
KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED
REFLECTION
Everyone who asks will receive, does not mean we receive exactly what we asked for and when we asked for it. It is a promise of God that our prayers are heard and will be answered in the best manner for me. God knows best.
We sometimes practice tough love. God is the Master of tough love and knows just what we need. This does not mean we stop praying or asking. God loves to hear from us and reminds us who is in charge.
The Narrow Gate.
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few. MATTHEW 7:13
FOLLOW THE NARROW ROAD AND GATE TO LIFE
REFLECTION
When I think narrow road and gate vs broad road and gate it makes sense to me. The world is broad and filled with its distractions and attractions. Sometimes it is hard to resist the siren call of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
We need all the help we can get to stay at that narrow path to Jesus. We have the Scriptures but do we read them? We have the Magisterium of the Church but do we listen to the teachings of the Catechism. We have the Holy Spirit breathing inspiration into our souls but do we pay attention?
I am reminded of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the beggar. After death, Lazarus was in the bosom of Abraham and the rich man, in torment of nether world. LUKE 16:26:31
The rich man pleaded with Abraham, ‘I beg you, father Abraham, send Lazarus to my father’s house, I have five brothers that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.
Abraham replied, they have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them. He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’
False Prophets.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them…Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them. MATTHEW 15-20
BY THEIR FRUITS YOU WILL KNOW THEM
REFLECTION
Let us be bearers of good fruit. They will know we are Christians because of our love for one another. We have been disappointed and ashamed of some of our shepherds during the clergy abuse scandal. Let us pray for them and their victims. Some very bad fruit has entered into the harvest. Let us bear good fruit in response. .Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
It is imperative that we bear true witness to Christ and His teachings. Let us examine ourselves carefully this Lent. Are our hearts filled with love and mercy or anger, frustration, and complaint.?
The True Disciple.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,* but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy; did we not drive out demons; did we not do mighty deeds in your name? Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers. MATTHEW 21-23
ONLY THE ONE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER
WILL ENTER KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
REFLECTION
This is a cautionary tale from Jesus that calling him by name or saying you believe in Jesus is not enough. More is required. What exactly? Well, we are required to love our neighbors. “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” I John 4:20
We must not just hear God’s word but really listen and act accordingly. It is easy to talk a good talk about Jesus but more difficult to be Jesus in this world to others. We show our love for Jesus by our love for our neighbors.