Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
When Jesus died on the cross, he not only reconciled us to God (that is, paid for our sins). He also reconciled us to one another. The reasoning is pretty simple. If we are all reconciled to God then we have no reason not to be reconciled to one another. And if we are reconciled to God and to one another, we have no business killing one another.
In case we have lost track of this point, Jesus underscores it in our Gospel reading today: “You shall not kill.” And if you do, you make yourself available to judgment. This is a simple rule, though our culture seems to have a terrible time following it. Another mass shooting has just been reported as I write this reflection. More pain and suffering for those shot, those who witnessed it, and all their loved ones.
A simple rule. If only we, as a society, could follow it.
But in our reading for today, Jesus raises the stakes. And he is very clear. It is not enough that I refrain from killing someone else. If only it were! That would be relatively easy for me given my privileged location. I live my life in relative safety. I have never been mortally threatened by another human being. I have never had to make a choice between losing my life (to follow Jesus) or taking the life of another (to save my own). And I am deeply grateful for that.
But Jesus is not satisfied with the fact that I’ve never killed anyone. That is not enough; he wants more.
As I approach the tithing box in the front of the church, he wants me to ask myself a question: “Am I at peace with my brother, sister, neighbor?” And his idea of peace is expansive, as he makes clear in our reading for today. So, I have to ask myself some questions. Have I insulted someone recently? Maybe posted something on social media that was not, shall we say, kind? Did I offend that person? Worse yet, did I mean to? Have I discriminated against someone? Hurt them in some way? Did I ignore them when they were in need? I could list so many more questions, but you get the idea.
This is Jesus’s question for us today: Am I/are you at peace with our fellow human beings? If I am not—if I have anger in my heart, if I wish ill will on another, if I have hurt someone in some way—I am not fit for the Kingdom, Jesus is saying.
What a powerful word for us today. What a challenge! Wouldn’t it be something if instead of being known as judgmental, self-righteous, and intolerant, we (especially white) Christians came to be known as people of kindness and reconciliation? Think of how people might pour into the pews. We would truly stand out as a people of a different sort. A people of the Prince of Peace.
Like me, most of us don’t have the power to transform the public face of Christianity in America today. But I can examine my own life. I can seriously ask myself what I have done to cause discord in my relationships and in my society. And I can ask myself why I have done that and examine my conscience. I can own what I have done out loud to the other I have harmed. And seek forgiveness and reconciliation.
That is the challenge that Jesus is putting to us today. I pray we will rise to it.
- Susan Trollinger