Today’s Matthean Gospel informs us that Christ did not come to abolish the Law but rather came to infuse the meaning of the Law with His Love, His Passion and provide for the depth and breadth of God’s commands. He came to complete the Law.

This past week, on Friday, the gospel spoke of a miracle that Christ performed on a deaf and mute man. Healing his speech and his hearing, the crowd was mightily impressed and took the miracle as the be-all-and-end-all, and surely it would be for the individual healed. But for the crowd, the message of Christ’s teachings was the message, the miracle was just to draw attention to the power of mercy, love and forgiveness. This is also true when we look at the teachings of Christ on sin, we need to pay more attention to the meaning of the “law” and not just focus on the “Thou Shall Nots.” We lose the love and mercy and healing power of Christ when we just focus on the “no, no, no.”

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells His disciples what not to do. He instructs them in the need for virtue in their lives, and that if their virtue is only as “deep as a bird bath,” I am paraphrasing, then things are going to be difficult. He continues telling His disciples about sin—and even more about how we may enter into sin by just tipping our toes in the water (remember candidate Jimmy Carter who said he had committed adultery in his heart, meaning he had lusted in his heart without committing the physical sin)?

Today’s gospel may be very difficult to communicate and to hear in our modern world where “sin” has become understood as a “mistake I made”—or even a belief that sin does not exist. But sin does exist and sin is an offense against God.

So what is the take-away from Matthew’s Gospel? As we learn about the Lord our God—remember to consider the Beatitudes as coming to know God’s heart. Then we have to look deeper into the meaning of His Teachings What is marriage really about? Is it just a convenient relationship between two people and it works as long as everyone is happy? Or is there ‘something greater here,” in marriage? Does Christ enter into the marriage? Is He invited by the couple? Does marriage have a greater meaning and a purpose…the procreation of the race, the strengthening of the family, society? Are there roles to be “played” by the participants…parents, husband and wife, children…are there boundaries and what are their goods?

If God so loved the world (John 3:16), then what is the purpose of His commandments and His Teachings through Christ? Is it not a search for the excellence of all? And with His Love for all created peoples and things, then does not God wish to give to us all that we need to be reconciled with Him for all eternity?

Let us not be stuck on the “Thou Shall Nots…” May we look deeper into the meaning and purpose of His Teachings: on marriage, on human life, on love, on the forgiveness of sins, on the command “not turn your back on your own.” Let us look more deeply into the Love that caused God to send His Only Son into the world, to suffer and to die so as to be raised from the dead that you and I may have life eternal. Let us examine the Beatitudes and know God’s heart, let us go out into the deep waters of faith, drop anchor and stay awhile as we take in His Love, Forgiveness and Mercy, so that we may move forward to imitate Him as we feed the hungry, care for the sick, educate the lost and wandering, and pray for the hurting (the people of Turkey and Syria), remembering that in the end, we are all children of the One, True God.

Observing external laws is not enough. Jesus wants listening hearts, courageous, generous and discerning. Hearts like his. Whether we are young or older, we are called to be prophetic by rising above peer pressure and speaking the truth in your heart? If you mean yes, say yes. May we all end our prayer with the writer of the Psalms: “Make me know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation.” (Psalm 25:4-5)