Year A Epiphany VI Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Matthew 5:21-37

Today’s first reading is a dramatic passage from the book of Deuteronomy, which is a truly wonderful Biblical book with a fascinating history. When you hear passages read from it, it sounds like Moses is speaking, but after years of study and research, Christian and Jewish scholars alike believe the book was written long after the time of Moses and then attributed to him.

Scholars believe Deuteronomy was written by the Levites, the lawyers, if you will, of the Children of Israel, during the reign of King Josiah. This group is today referred to collectively as “the Deuteronomist”. And then, a portion of the book was most likely found in the Temple in Jerusalem, a discovery that is actually mentioned in the second scroll of the Kings, also known simply as 2 Kings.

But what makes Deuteronomy really amazing to us who are not Biblical scholars, is the way in which the text delivers its message. Everything in it is current - it is all about “now”, this day. No matter what the setting, we are there, the choices that were theirs are ours, the cautions and blessings are for thisday, no matter in what century they are heard. Deuteronomy speaks to us today as Moses, or those writing in his name, spoke to the Children of Israel.

The setting in today’s reading is the wilderness beyond the Jordan. There, the Israelites listen as Moses describes the kind of people they have become: a people formed in the melting pot of covenant. They have given up the golden calf and chosen the Law. Theirs will be a life lived in obedience, a faith practiced and witnessed through their devout adherence to this Law.

In today’s reading Moses lays out in stark terms the choice that lies before them: obedience or death. Love God and live; serve other gods and perish! The entire Torah has been driving toward this choice. Blessings and extravagant abundance will belong to those who heed the voice of God; unspeakable calamity, terror, and affliction will be the lot of those who abandon the covenant.

Moses [thunders], “See, I have set before you this day life and prosperity, death and adversity.

This is a moment of decision – life or death - placed before believers, people like us, who must choose. And it is this choice that leads the Children of Israel and their descendants to become very law abiding people. But lives lived by laws that at first seem crystal clear can become complicated in certain situations.

By Jesus time there were arguments between the Sadducees and Pharisees concerning nuances and shadings of the law, arguments over what covered situations that fell into grey areas, and always the prideful competition between sects as to who better kept to the Law and the teachings of Moses. And while they squabbled, both the Pharisees and Sadducees tried to bait Jesus by asking Him questions about the Law, but Jesus did not play their game.

Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said … But I say to you …”

Jesus often begins His teachings with these words. It sounds at first as if He has come to abolish the Law, but as His listeners quickly realize, this is not the case. Jesus takes the familiar, the Laws that all good Jews live by, and many argue over, deepens and enriches them, and in this way He does not abolish them, but fulfills them.

Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall not murder'; and `whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.'

What could move any of Jesus listeners or us to do murder? It sounds preposterous. But Jesus is taking this familiar, clear cut law and changing the emphasis. We all know, or have met, people who without a second thought will smile to our face and then “stab us in the back” when we aren’t in their company. This is a form of “murder” well recognized and despised by our society, and if we consider it further we can probably come up with other examples of murder done to us by supposed friends. But Jesus pushes us to think harder and to look deeper, not just at what others may have done to us. We have no control over what others do, but we are responsible for ourselves.

I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.

Jesus isn’t emphasizing what we call “the letter of the law”. He is focusing on real life, and the forms of murder of which we are capable. Jesus is talking to His Jewish listeners and to us, people who are moved through jealousy and anger to take out their feelings on those who they believe have offended them. We may feel correct and justified whatever actions we choose, but Jesus tells us our anger-motivated behavior is not acceptable to God. He tells us it is murder.

So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

To put it another way, if you have not been in control of your anger, if you have acted on it in any way, if you have “murder” in your heart, then don’t waste your money on an offering or your time coming to the altar. God will not be receptive to you until you have made amends for having acted on that emotion that lies at the heart of murder.

"You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

We often find it difficult to understand that we’re all sinners, so Jesus uses an example to which almost anyone can relate. Men appreciate lovely women, women look at men the same way, and we today acknowledged same sex attraction as well. Can any of this be considered sinful in the eyes of God? Jesus is not commenting on the nature of sexuality, but is telling us that the little things we discount are, nonetheless, all signs of our sinful nature. Attraction is biological, but lust – that is the sin. Jesus is opening up the Laws for His listeners, for us, making it clear how all of us break the Commandments, how all of us are guilty of sin.

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Should we be dismembering ourselves in order to avoid damnation? Of course not! Jesus is saying what He hopes will shock those among us who are only half listening, half understanding what He’s telling us. We have all looked at something we ought not to have seen. Our society offers all sorts of opportunities to peek, pry, and observe much that isn’t wholesome, that doesn’t draw us closer to God. Just think about what is covered in our day to day news. The same can be said for our hands, or for our feet, that often walk us into situations we know we’d be better off avoiding.

These are all things we do that displease God and remove us from a state of grace.

Next, Jesus turns to vows made and broken.

Divorce. This is a sensitive topic in today’s world, because, as it was in Jesus day, divorce has become all too common. The difference between then and now is that in Jesus’ day a man could divorce his wife simply because he didn’t like her, and could make up any excuse he wished to be rid of her. Today we recognize there are definitely situations where divorce, or annulment if you are Roman Catholic, is necessary. Jesus’ point here is that marriage involves the taking of vows before God, and to be an oath breaker was then and is now not acceptable to God.

You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' But I say to you, Do not swear at all.

The trouble in our society today is that no one takes such things seriously. We find the law too stringent, too limiting, too preposterous. Jesus wants to shock us into realizing that God’s Law is real, and that it covers not just the obvious sins we avoid, but our inner sins and souls. We are sinners – and until we see that this is true, and move to change our lives, we will not find favour in the eyes of God. God calls us to be holy, and the Law was given to help us sinful mortals achieve this goal.

Becoming and being holy is difficult. It calls us to focus our lives, to center our hearts and souls in God. Alas, worldly responsibilities always tend to distract us from holiness. And the Law, which Jesus references in or Gospel today, as Paul would comment on later, is not enough to hold us on the path.

Fortunately for us, we have a Shepherd to lead us, guide us, and guard us. As we struggle, this day, to keep the Law as Jesus defines it for us, we have Him to help us do so – to help us become and remain sensitive, caring, loving, faithful, holy people. We know that true joy is found in holiness, and to achieve this goal we need only ask Jesus for His help.

Why, we might wonder, must we struggle in this way? The answer is that becoming holy is our calling, is meant to be our life’s goal, even though it has to be worked at. However, if it doesn’t sound appealing, if it seems like too much work, we do have a choice.

“See, [He] has set before us this day life and prosperity, death and adversity.” The choice between life and death really is ours.

Let us pray:

O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen