Reflection - A Dangerous Proposition

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032217.cfm
DT 4:1, 5-9
MT 5:17-19

Being involved in religion can be a dangerous proposition. If you doubt me, just take a look at the two readings offered for our consideration this morning.

First, we find Moses talking to this ragtag mob of people he has just led away from the fertile regions of the Egyptian Nile dełta into the Sinai Peninsula on a route euphemistically referred to as the road to the Promised Land. Although the general conditions of the Peninsula are dry and hot with sparse vegetation, it is not without life, mostly rodents and poisonous snakes. There's no food and no water, but, what the hell? It is here that Moses tells the people the obligations--- read that as Laws, commandments, statutes and decrees--- which they must now observe as part of their newly volunteered status as the 'Chosen People.' 

Now, it all sounds pretty good as Moses explicates it in the verses selected here. 

          "Observe [these commandments] carefully and you will give evidence of your

     wisdom and intelligence to the nations. They will hear of all these statutes and say, 

     This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.'

          "What great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD? Or what

     great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law?

But Moses is careful not to expound on all the details here at the beginning. In retrospect, you might even think he was campaigning for office. No, the full story comes some twenty-six chapters later in the book. Just hear the rest of the particulars---the part Moses conveniently leaves out in his initial presentation of the scenario he has in mind.

          "If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command

     you this day, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless

     you." (Deuteronomy 30:16)

Sounds good so far. But wait! There's more! 

          "If your heart turns away, and you will not hear. . .  I declare to you this day,

     that you shall perish." (Deuteronomy 30:17-18)

          "I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before

     you life and death, blessing and curse." (Deuteronomy 30:19)

'Live and multiply and be blessed'   OR . . . PERISH!    A blessing and a curse! That's pretty straight forward. A clear cut choice. As I said, being involved in religion can be a dangerous proposition. 

The Gospel text appears a bit milder; and, after all, we're not living 4,000 years ago in Old Testament times. So, setting aside the uncomfortable opening reminder that the Law is not going to go away---indeed, not even the smallest part of the Law is going to go away---Jesus spells out his version of the consequences. "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." Now, that doesn't sound so bad; certainly a lot better than that perish business of Moses. I think I could tolerate being called the least in the Kingdom of heaven. After all, if I'm the least then I got in didn't I?

Jesus even offers a corollary: "But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven." A bit beyond my reach, but even that doesn't seem too intimidating. I may not be the greatest; but being the least wouldn't be intolerable. Still, I'm a bit suspicious and I check to see where these verses fit into Matthew's text. Lo, and behold, my paranoia is well founded; the guy making the selection left out something! He forgot to include the closing line! The one with which Jesus closes his observations: "I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

I could have done without that part.

See, I could have handled being assigned somewhere between the 'least' and the 'greatest'. I might have been disappointed, but I think, in the long run, I could ultimately have adapted to just being the eternal 'least'. But now I've got something else to worry about: my righteousness has to exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees. As I said, being involved in religion can be a dangerous proposition.

What a bummer! And what do I do with the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees? Hey! They're the archetype, the standard, the touchstone of being righteous by following the Law. They're at the apex, the pinnacle, the peak, the summit of law-abiders. And I have to surpass that! So I read further. I can't hate anybody, Jesus says. I can't even be angry with them. I have to be nice to them, even telling the truth. I don't even get to twist the truth to my liking. Hey, and get this: I have to love my enemies. Told you so. It's a dangerous proposition, this religion thing.

Jesus, I surrender. I can't do all these things. I've tried. Lord, you know I've tried. I just can't do it. And when you concluded by saying that I have to be perfect. . . . What do I do with that? Impossible! Take me away from all these laws that I can never live up to. Take me away from holiness that is measured by legal observance. I'll never even get to be the least if I have to be measured by how well I follow the rules. Cover me with your life and live in me. Fill me with your Spirit that your divine holiness may make my weakness invisible, even to the Father.