Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mt 5:17-37
February 12, 2023

Ash Wednesday is less than two weeks away!

For many people we pass in the grocery store, or encounter on the other side of a gas pump, this means absolutely nothing. They aren’t necessarily bad folks. They simply have no active spiritual life. LENT comes and goes, leaving them totally unaware that it is a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Other folks hear the words “Ash Wednesday” and think “Mardi Gras.” They may not be part of the mob of revelers in New Orleans, but they are still in the party mood. Fat Tuesday is not a “last call” before 40 days of abstinence. It’s just another opportunity to over-indulge.

Then there is you! Devout…observant…faithful…serious Christians (pick a label) …who anticipate the season and begin planning for it.

Toward that end, this Sunday’s Readings are a “checklist” for charting the 40-day spiritual journey. Jesus certainly gives us a framework to examine our consciences and our lives as we anticipate having ourselves marked with ashes.

BUT…

Maybe before you get too far into plotting your course through the desert, (that’s how we are encouraged to imagine Lent…as a desert experience), it might be helpful to consider where you want to be at sunrise on Easter Sunday Morning.

I’m wondering if simply giving up chocolate…or beer…or swearing…for six weeks…actually makes us all that much better than those people without any spiritual life. It might be a good thing to “stretch” our concept of Lent a bit. And to do that, it might help to “shrink” the Gospel passage the Church gives us as LENT fast approaches.

Matthew reports how Jesus detailed and then expounded on “The Law,” going so far as to lay out penalties for violations. But this lengthy passage can be “shrunk” into this interpretation:

Jesus was challenging His listeners…and continues to challenge devout…observant…faithful…serious Christians today…TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

What we hear today is the call for a radical and new way of living “The Law.” For The Lord, it is not enough to be observant. He is rallying the forces of goodness and love, encouraging His followers (us) to live outside of “The Law.”

In other words, it isn’t enough to observe the speed limit. We must adapt our speed according to road conditions. And considering the desperate conditions of our world today, this means speeding up our response to the diverse and dire needs of people with whom we share this planet.

Disciples are called to distinguish ourselves from the folks we pass in the grocery store…or encounter as we fill our gas tanks. We do this by being aware of the sufferings and needs of our sisters and brothers. Once a legitimate need is identified, discipleship demands a speedy and thoughtful response.

“THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX”
Engage the needs of others with loving hearts.

Limiting the penitential season to a few weeks of increased prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which it clearly is, might well find us feeling vindicated for our sins on Easter morning. But what happens Easter Monday?

It might benefit us to consider this season as an opportunity to speed up our life-long work of conversion. PRAYER, FASTING, AND ALMSGIVING might leave us feeling vindicated for our sins at the conclusion of Lent 2023. But THINKING AND LIVING OUTSIDE THE BOX might leave us feeling more comfortable to face our Just Judge at the conclusion of our earthly lives.

Ash Wednesday is less than two weeks away. Use this time to think about where you want to be on your own…personal…Easter Morning. A repentant sinner or a devout…observant…faithful…serious…Christian…who did more than merely observe the letter of “THE LAW”?