It is seldom a good ideal to return to one's own sermon with a thought on Monday morning. If the sermon is over, let it be over! Right? However, as I was reading the appointed Gospel for today, I could not help but notice a common point.
Matthew 5:21-26 contains Jesus' reminder that it isn't only our actions which run us afoul of God's desires, it is the inclinations of our hearts. Much like yesterday's Gospel, in which Jesus told the Pharisees it wasn't keeping all the rules which pleased God, rather loving with all our minds, and heats, and will, which please God, so here, Jesus helps us see that the mood of our hearts and the attitude with which we approach others makes a great difference.
Jesus says, "You have heard it said 'You shall not kill.' But I tell you everyone who is angry with his brother or sister shall be liable to judgement." Those insult another, those who utter "You fool!" are liable. It isn't merely what we do but how we approach another which affects our righteousness.
It is a lot easier to avoid the outward actions than it is to restrain ourselves with regard to how we feel. I may not strike my adversary, I may even avoid saying bad things about them in the presence of others, but the tough test is altering the way I feel about them in my heart.
Jesus told the Pharisees that they were concerned with the actions; he wanted them to look at their hearts and see what they discovered there. What resides in your heart is the strongest indication of whether you have indeed become the person Christ hopes you will become.
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