Saint Gertrude Parish - Lasne

Meditation by Pope Francis

This Sunday's Gospel reading is part of what is known as the "Sermon on the Mount," Jesus' first major sermon. Today's theme is Jesus' attitude toward Jewish law. He states: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). Jesus does not want to remove the commandments that the Lord gave through Moses, but rather to bring them to their fullness. And he immediately adds that the "fulfillment" of the Law requires a higher righteousness, a more authentic observance. Indeed, he tells his disciples: "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20).

But what does this “full fulfillment” of the Law mean? And what does this higher righteousness consist of? Jesus himself answers us with a few examples. Jesus was concrete; he always spoke with examples to make himself understood. He begins with the fifth commandment of the Decalogue: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder’… But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment” (vv. 21-22). With this, Jesus reminds us that words, too, can kill! When we say that someone has a viper's tongue, what do we mean? That their words kill! Therefore, not only must we not take the life of our neighbor, but we must also not pour out the poison of anger upon them or strike them with slander. Nor speak ill of them. We come now to slander: slander, too, can kill, because it destroys a person's reputation! It is so ugly to gossip! At first, it may seem pleasant, even enjoyable, like sucking on a candy. But in the end, it fills our hearts with bitterness and poisons us as well. I tell you the truth, I am convinced that if each of us resolved to avoid gossip, in the end we would become saints! It is a beautiful path! Do we want to become saints? Yes or no? [The faithful: Yes!] Do we want to live clinging to gossip as if it were a habit? Yes or no? [The faithful: No!] Then we agree: no gossip! Jesus offers those who follow him the perfection of love: a love whose only measure is to have no measure, to go beyond calculation. Love of neighbor is such a fundamental attitude that Jesus goes so far as to say that our relationship with God cannot be sincere if we do not want to make peace with our neighbor. He said, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and first go and be reconciled to them” (vv. 23-24). This is why we are called to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters before expressing our devotion to the Lord in prayer.