Conforming (phase 2), Jesus Teaches the Way - Arriving to a Decision (cont.)(step17), session 2

This entire step is focus on the Sermon on the the Mount. I'm so glad, because we so often equate the sermon with the beatitudes, and lose sight of everything in these wonderful chapters thereafter, or at least fail to realize that St. Matthew reports them as part of the same event. There is so much additional wisdom in the rest of the sermon.

Just in the parts of chapter 5 which this step and this session (Mt 5:21-26.38-42.43-48) skip are warnings against relying on our righteousness (20), lustfulness (27-28), tolerance of sin (29-30), contributing to the adultery of another (31-33), and substituting theatricality for simple earnestness (34-37).

So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  - Mt 5: 23-24

How often we try to insulate ourselves from one another yet maintain our relationship with God. How often we undermine our relationship with God, who loves our brother and sister so much that he gave his very life for him, for her, in how we treat this beloved child of God.

Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. - Mt 5: 39

This is a difficult passage to be wise about. I know that we, as followers of Christ, do a poor job of living it.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you . . . For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? - Mt 5: 44, 46

No matter what feelings we may have toward others, we are called to want the best for them. This can be a great challenge, and it turns out is closely linked to the concept of forgiveness, a topic on which I have thought and grappled and written so much that I've given it its own label. It turns out that someone who offends us needn't have the slightest repentance for their wrongdoing for us to be able to forgive them - but see more of my writing on this topic if you think that by that I mean we should be doormats for dysfunctional behavior by others.