The Truth of Our Dignity

by Sr Amy McFrederick ~ February 15, 2008, 1st week of Lent

Matthew 5:20-26

             One of the many things I love about Jesus is the way He constantly calls us to our full stature and dignity as sons and daughters of God—no matter what mistakes his disciples made, he was always steadily and firmly loving them into wholeness as long as they remained open to Him.  When Jesus stood before Pilate, He said, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”  He knew the TRUTH of our dignity, and the love that God has for each person called into life.

             Today’s Gospel points out subtle ways that we can go astray from God’s Truth, and find ourselves moving away from His Kingdom.  Jesus speaks here against anger. Some years ago, I read the book Dance of Anger in which the author shows how anger is meant to be both a signal that something is not right and needs to be changed, and a source of strength to hold fast to your truth through the needed change.  It must be listened to, and acted on to bring us into right relationships with ourselves and others.  It can be a way of listening to the Holy Spirit working within us.  I found that very helpful, because for years, in my desire to live this Gospel message, I tried not to be angry or to simply dismiss it without listening to it.   But that wasn’t what Jesus is talking about here; He is talking about anger that leads to destructive and insulting words.

             One commentary distinguishes between a fleeting anger—one that flares up quickly, and just as easily dies down; and a long-term anger—one that we nurse, brood over, and will not let die; anger which will not forget, refuses to be pacified, seeks revenge.  Both can lead to insulting words directed unwittingly to God, or that have the power to destroy another’s reputation.  Jesus goes on to point out two cases where anger spills into oppressive, insulting words:  Raca (an expression of contempt); and Moros (here translated as ‘fool’—calls into question a person’s moral character, and destroys a person’s reputation.)

             There is a Rabbinic tale of a certain Rabbi, who was coming from his teacher’s house.  He was feeling uplifted at the thought of his own scholarship, his position, and his goodness.  A very ill-favored passer-by gave him a greeting.  The Rabbi did not return the greeting, but said, “You Raca! How ugly you are.  Are all the men of your town as ugly as you?”  “That,” said the passer-by, “I do not know.  Go and tell the Maker who created me how ugly is the creature God has made.”  So there the Rabbi’s sin of contempt was rebuked.

             Don Miguel Ruiz in his book The Four Agreements, says, “The human mind is like a fertile ground where seeds are continually being planted.  The seeds are opinions, ideas, the concepts.  The word is pure magic; we plant a seed, a thought, and it grows.  Every human is a magician, and we thoughtlessly cast spells on each other all the time with our opinions.  Someone gives an opinion and says, “Look, that child is ugly.”  The child listens, believes she is ugly, and grows up with this idea.  It doesn’t matter how beautiful she is; as long as she has that agreement, she will believe that she is ugly.  That is the spell she is under….The only thing that can break a spell is to make a new agreement based on truth.  Only the truth has the power to break such spells and set us free.”

             It’s natural enough to have bad feelings toward other people at times.  But actually to call people names is sin.  Normally, we don’t do it to people’s faces.  We do it behind their back when we’re talking to others—and sometimes with a humorous twist.  Ken Untner says “the more humorous it is, the deeper it cuts, because clever insults are the ones that stick.”  Barclay says “it’s gossip over a teacup that murders people’s reputation.”

             As we move into Communion with our God and with each other, we are asked by today’s Gospel to examine our interior attitudes toward others.  Are they based on the TRUTH Christ reveals? Do Truth and Kindness guard our lips?

The Good News of today’s first reading reminds us that the ways of God lead to life in God’s Kingdom. If you know where you want to go and find yourself headed in the wrong direction, just get back on the right path!