Epiphany 6 (A) + Forgive + 2.16.20

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Deut. 30:15–20, Ps. 119:1–8, 1 Cor. 3:1–9, S. Matt. 5:21–37)

Today we hear from Deuteronomy:
 Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (Deut. 30:19b-20).”

And then we hear from Jesus, via Matthew

“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; … So… first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift (Matt. 5:21-22a).”

The Sermon on the Mount just got real. Jesus is touching us where it hurts! You mean we don’t just have to follow the Ten Commandments by scrupulously making sure our actions avoid murder, blasphemy, covetousness, stealing, lying and disrespect of our family, but Jesus is going to look into our hearts, too? That is a hard one.

Bryan Stevenson, attorney and faithful member of the AME Church, says “We’re more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” And many therapists I know say that we are not defined by the bad thoughts we might have, but how we act on them. So what sense to we make of this message?
First, our actions. Laws are good. What we have seen played out on our national stage in recent weeks has shown us the importance and limits of laws in our national governance. Laws are very important tools to protect the least of these, but if they are used to oppress vulnerable populations we must scrutinize them again. Because God has called us to choose life – for ourselves and for others. We must make laws work for justice with mercy.

The movie “Just Mercy,” released earlier this year, shows attorney Bryan Stevenson’s early work with death row inmates. There is a particular focus on a man in Alabama who was hardworking and a faithful member of his church and community, but because he was black and had a bit of a reputation for stepping out on his wife, got framed for a murder he had no way of committing. Many eye-witnesses put him in a completely different part of town at a church event at the time of the murder. But no, the white sheriff wanted a scapegoat for the murder of a young woman. He was more worried about healing the town that is in shock by any means than in protecting the life of this man and his family’s wellbeing. But through diligent and careful work, and in the face of threats, Stevenson and his team work to bring about justice for the man who was wrongly condemned to death. He eventually gets to go home, although not without significant damage to his mental and physical health.
One of the questions of this movie is about whom laws are serving. If they protect the innocent, they are good. But if they further establish the ills of society – our racism, our intolerance of those who are different then they are evil. We must choose life.
I believe that in this passage today, Jesus is not trying to give us a guilt trip. But rather he is asking us to look at the laws in our society in a more dynamic fashion. Do we just follow the rules without looking deeper at whom they affect and how they are playing out?
Take divorce. In Jesus’ day, it was all too easy for a man to simply abandon his wife over nothing. A dispute occurred, and he could write her a note. This could be to do with indecency, but it could also just be another reason. A woman could not divorce so easily. This left women vulnerable. This is why Jesus is suggesting that marriage should be respected, in order to protect women from being abandoned for little to no reason. We sometimes read back into this our societal guilt around marriage and divorce. We always enter into relationships hoping for them to be life-long, at least most of us do. But sometimes our partner has not been totally honest about themselves, or something happens to make that relationship no longer a working marriage. Then, in order to choose life, we sometimes have to choose separation. Sometimes we can work it out. But sometimes not, and we should not use Jesus’ words to judge those who cannot find a resolution. Let us remember that later on this same sermon, Jesus says “do not judge.”
Because Jesus knows our hearts. And I think that is an important point. Jesus is not Big Brother, reading our minds, and trying to make sure we are not sinful in our thoughts. Of course we do not want to harbor ill feelings or lust about another. We do not want to objectify anyone or let simmer the poison of disdain (even though sometimes I know, it is fun). But we are human. Impolite and even aggressive thoughts will sometimes flash through our minds. God is not judging us on those. Jesus is saying, pay attention to your heart. What are you holding in your heart?
Is it love for others? Or are you mad at the world and holding torch for every bad thing everyone ever did to you?
If so, let it go. Choose life. Go to your sibling in Christ, either right here in the church, or as soon as you can if they are a friend or family member, or neighbor, and say, “I am sorry.” Or “I forgive you.” If that is not appropriate or will not be well received, say it in your heart and mean it. At least for the moment. I know that pain may come back. But keep forgiving. And forgiving.

But don’t submit yourself to mistreatment or abuse. That is not forgiveness. That is not life-giving. And Jesus doesn’t want you to put up with that. Forgiveness can be letting it go in your heart while still not putting yourself in a position to be hurt again. But at the same time we must practice a certain amount of vulnerability. Sometimes you might have to step back into relationship in order for real reconciliation to take place.

Because if you don’t forgive, the past will come up. It will come up when you are close to God and yet don’t feel fully close. It will raise its ugly head when you want to be loving but you still hold that fear. So forgive. And heed the laws, and exhort others to, but always with a spirit of love, of justice and mercy.

Take care of your heart, and your actions will follow. Because it is all about the heart. At the end of “Just Mercy,” we see real footage of a person who had served on death row being released many years later. And his family member hugs him and cannot stop crying and saying, “Thank you Jesus!” And in that moment, we see justice and mercy kiss.  Let us choose life, and may our hearts and actions follow. Amen.