Growing Up With God

When you think about justice and mercy in the life of a person you can see how as the person matures so too does justice and mercy.  When we were little our parents dealt with us a certain way, it was usually pretty direct, “don’t do this or don’t do that.”  As little children we would ask, “why not?”  The parent would usually respond in a direct and black and white way, “because I said so,” or “because it’s not good for you.”  As little children our moral make up and understanding consisted in, “if you do such and such then these will be the consequences.”  There was not much room for the “grey area” if you will.  As we grew older we began to understand why something was good and why something was bad or to be avoided.  I liken the individual’s maturity with justice and mercy to that of our entire society.  Allow me to explain.

When the People of God had been taught through the Prophets, be it Moses, Ezekiel, Daniel, they were still being taught in their infancy and early youth.  Society was much like the child trying to learn the “why” behind the Law.  This does not mean they were less than us or that we are much wiser, but society grows up, if you will and matures just like the child.

When you read the Old Testament it is very black and white, it is very exact, much like a parent dealing with a child.  It does not mean the method was wrong.  Take for example a parent trying to explain to a seven year old Aristotle’s Nicomchean Ethics.  It would not work.  However if you try to explain it to a twenty-five year old person they will grasp it much better.  God did not bombard us with everything, but slowly over time began to develop the Truth to a fuller understanding.

So yes, if you hit someone in the face you should get ready to get hit in return, however, since we have matured God said, “The better thing is to hold your fist and turn the other cheek.”

In today’s Gospel reading Jesus knows the time is ready, young Israel is maturing so therefore like a good parent who challenges their teenagers, Jesus said, ““You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.  But I say to you, whoever is angry with brother will be liable to judgment (and) “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.  But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  “Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.  But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;  nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;  nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.  Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”

Jesus truly raises the bar for us.  The bar is no longer simply down here, but way up here.  Before it was an eye for an eye now Jesus demands more, He demands love in all things.  If you hate your brother you are a murderer as it is written in John’s 1^st letter, here in the Gospel Jesus tells us anger at our brother, unjust anger, can lead to judgment never mind revenge.  Adultery is committed in one’s heart not just in one’s actions, again the bar is set way up and finally don’t make promises you can’t keep, just live for today and live with love.

We may think it unfair that Jesus has set the bar so high, but thank goodness He did.  If we are to become perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect then we must aspire to it with every fiber in our body and souls.  We have grown up as a society since Jesus was here and He demands much of us, even more than what He demanded from the Apostles.  The question is have we grown up?  The bar has been set even higher, are we up for the challenge.  I pray we are.