Tough Readings Today

For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

I hate hearing stuff like that. I do a pretty lousy job with righteousness. This always reminds me of that.

But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou Fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Oof.

Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing.

Hey, at least we've got purgatory. That's the good part in all this. It wouldn't surprise me if the Holy Spirit made sure this part was written here just to keep folks from wailing in despair.

But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Ouch. This is the spiritual death of so many.

But I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting for the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.

There are probably people who left the Church today because their priest decided to focus on this in his homily. They simply cannot abide being told that they are sinning.

But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.

Evil. What actually counts for evil anymore? I can pretty much guarantee you that none of the above-mentioned activities gets much play as evil anymore. Unless someone (not an unborn child) is killed, tortured, or raped, folks are uncomfortable with this word. Evil. Probably because it would describe themselves, and we are all far too nice to be or do anything evil.

The Judgement will show otherwise.