The status quo says we should be interested in money.
Striving for wealth and creature comforts. This alternative way of living
suggested by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is quite the opposite. Not
worrying about the material goods of life, but being intently interested in relationships. This section addresses the importance of
relationships to provide support and focus in a world that is frightened by
this alternative path. But relationship building does not mean complaining and whining about the other, looking at the grass on the other side, or trying to keep up with the Joneses.
Chapter 7 addresses the very real and human tendency we have
in times of heightened stress and anxiety to judge one another. To compare ourselves to others and in an
attempt to make ourselves feel better and stronger, we judge and condemn anyone
else’s way. We want to make sure everyone else feels as miserable as we do
about ourselves and so we point the finger at one another. The famous line
about taking the log out of your own eye before you pluck the speck out of your
neighbor’s eye appears here. Jesus
suggests here that it doesn’t mean that a person’s wrongdoings be ignored, but
that we not fully and wholly condemn someone. Rather, he suggests a sort of compassionate
correction rather than condemnation. He
says what is merciful is self examination and correction, rather than
condemnation. If you are miserable, seek
out the answers why within yourself, rather than poking around in your neighbor’s
eye.
The famous lines about ask and you shall receive, seek and
you shall find and knock and the door shall be opened to you are also in the
passage. I have always heard this
passage described in ways that are more about acquisition than spiritual
disciplines, but that is far from what Jesus is getting at here. Jesus suggests that we seek God first. We
ask, seek and knock means we PRAY in a daily practice, we actively seek God’s
presence in our lives and we invite God to be part of our journey. It isn’t about GETTING something from God,
it’s about giving yourself fully to God’s purpose. It’s a compliment to the passage last week
about developing spiritual practices. Implied
here is the notion that if we give into the release that spiritual practices
offer, we are able to let go of the miserable stronghold the ‘everyday world’
holds over us.
We end this week’s reading with the Golden Rule, which is
not unique to Jesus, to the Christian faith, but goes across most cultures and
religions. Almost every culture on earth has what we call the Golden Rule as
it’s foundational moral compass, but here it is used by the gospel writer to
summarize Jesus’ teachings (and it does so VERY well) and to emphasize Jesus’
plea that we show indiscriminate love for all because in doing that we will be
mirroring God’s love.
Lots going on here, but not really any new ideas to share
than in previous weeks. Bottom line: Love your neighbor with a deep and profound
love. Care for one another. Dig within
your own heart and discover what work you need to do internally. Ask God to be with you internally that you
might live as a disciple externally.
This is all so much.
Can we do it? With God’s help,
the door will be opened to us. What are
your thoughts? Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org
or comment below.
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