Thoughts Do Count

Readings for Sunday February 13, 2011


Summary of the Gospel from YM Central

One of the most difficult decisions a person faces in life is to become vulnerable to another, to the point of revealing their deepest selves to another. In this Gospel, Jesus reaches out to us and invites us to become open to Him. Reading this entire passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel brings us into the meat and potatoes of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, arguably His greatest teaching ever. To place it in context, we have to put on the ears of the first century Jews who would have heard this message, Jews who were well versed with the Law of Moses and who followed it with everything they had. Jesus acknowledges the goodness of the Law, but then says ‘hang on, folks’, and takes us deeper. Notice the pattern Jesus uses in this Gospel: It isn’t just enough to fulfill the Gospel, rather, Jesus wants us to have a change of heart. He wants to root out anything in us that gets in the way of loving totally. When we pause to think of what we want out of life, in the end all of us want to be happy, all of us want to love and to be loved. We can have the worst job in the world, we can fail in school, we can be sick and suffering, but if we have love, we have life. In this passage, Jesus gives us the key to love. Love must come from the depths of who we are, and to be true love, it must be formed and guided by Jesus Himself. Perhaps, even unknowingly, we have allowed a wound or a sin to keep Jesus out of our hearts. Today Jesus asks to be invited into every thought, action and experience of our lives. He asks us today not only to trust Him, but to really place Him above all that we desire in life. Let us ask the Lord for the grace to learn how to love, no matter the cost, and to allow His love to transform us into the person He intends us to be.

Reading 1 Sirach 15:15-20

15 If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; 16 he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. 17 Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him. 18 Immense is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. 19 The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands man’s every deed. 20 No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin.

Discussion Questions:

1 According to Sirach, who is responsible for sin?

2 If God does not “give strength for lies” (v 20), from where do lies come from?

Reading 2 1 Corinthians 2:6-10

6 Brothers and sisters: We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. 7 Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden,
which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, 8 and which none of the rulers of this age knew;
for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him, 10 this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.


Discussion Questions:

1 From these passages, what differences do you see between human wisdom and God’s Wisdom?

2 What is secret about God’s wisdom?

3 How do you feel about verse 9? How is your life affected by the promises in this verse?


Gospel Matthew 5:17-37

17 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 20 I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 21 “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. 22 But I say to you, whoever is angry with brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. 23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.
28 “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. 31 “It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. 32 But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife - unless the marriage is unlawful - causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 33 “Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”

Discussion Questions:

1. How does Jesus reference the Law of Moses in this passage? What does He add to that Law?

2. How do you think those who heard Jesus’ teaching reacted, given that they would have been well versed in the Law of Moses?

3. What makes it difficult for people to let Jesus in to the center of their hearts? Describe. What would you say to a person who has closed his/her heart to the love of God?

4. Consider the 10 Commandments (Ex 20, 1-17). Which commandments are most difficult for you? Why?

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