"Reconciliation Starts Here"

Sermon Preached on Feburary 13th, 2011

Our scripture passage this morning may seem a bit complex. This passage lists laws and rules that we are suppose to follow. The formula this passage follows goes like this: “You have heard that it was said…But I say to you…” It seems as though at first glance Jesus is contradicting the law of the Old Testament, the law of the Torah.

But in verses 17-18 Jesus says: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”

So the formula in the scripture passage: “You have heard it said…But I say to you…” are not words of contradiction. But what are they? If they are not words of contradiction, the only other thing they could be is a reaffirmation of the law, a further elaboration of the law and an application of the law.

If we look at verse 21 it states the law explicitly: “You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” Christ upholds this law, but he also goes on further to elaborate on this law with verse 22 to say: “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” This elaboration of the law by Christ hits at the root of human conduct. Jesus wants us to follow the laws of the Torah, but he also wants us to follow the spiritual intentions of the law. Christ goes deeper and transcends the actual legalism of the law or the doing and following of rules and regulations such as paying taxes, not murdering, not committing adultery or divorce. Christ wants us to follow God’s will, which means not only not killing others, but also not having any hostility between human beings, countries, and God.

In the same manner Christ expounds on the spiritual intentions of the laws against adultery and the law of divorce. It is not just the act of adultery which is against the law, but one’s lustful intentions of looking upon a man or a woman with immoral purposes. There is no torah command against divorce, but the historical Jesus proclaimed the absolute prohibition of divorce as the will of God. Christ did this because of frequent occurrence of divorce. Men could divorce there wives for any reason, like if the wife displeased her husband. Jesus’ law and the will God was against the lax attitude toward marriage. People were not upholding the importance of love and commitment to one another.

All three of these subjects: murder, adultery, and divorce deal with relationships. Relationships between people and relationships with God and God’s will. All three of these subjects are expressions of the Great Commandment which reads: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Laws and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

It is God’s will that we will live out not only the legal side of the law, but the spiritual intentions of the law. A wholesome relationship with ourselves, with our neighbors and with God is what honors God.

An example of what this might look like in our modern day comes from the movie Invictus. In this movie Nelson Mandela, played by Morgan Freedom, becomes the president of South Africa and he has a dream of reconciliation between the black South African population and the White South African population. He does this through the use of sports, the rugby team in South Africa. There is a particular scene in the movie where Nelson Mandela’s head of security, Jason, is infuriated when, after requesting more men for security purposes, he discovers that the bodyguards sent to his office are white men from the apartheid regime of the former president. He storms into Mandela’s office confronting him about the issue claiming that those men were the ones who tried and sometimes succeeded in killing the black South African population and leaders. Jason does not want these men to be part of his security force. Mandela believes otherwise. Mandela responds to Jason using these words: “The rainbow nation starts here. Reconciliation starts here. Forgiveness starts here. Forgiveness liberates the soul; it removes fear; that is why it is such a powerful weapon.”

Reconciliation and forgiveness are powerful weapons. They are powerful and liberating and bring us to understand and know a wholesome relationship with ourselves, with others, and with God.
As a chaplain I have seen the difficult moments in people’s lives. I have also seen the times of reconciliation and forgiveness that come at the end of life, whether that is the person who is ill or the family that surrounds them that is doing the act of reconciliation and forgiveness. These are times of celebration, healing and wholeness between families and God, and with themselves. God gives us the opportunities in which to carry out God’s will of living into the Greatest Commandment of loving God and loving our neighbor.

But Jesus doesn’t call us to reconcile ourselves with others only at the end of life, but to reconcile ourselves with others and with God during life. Jesus says: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” And again Jesus says: “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way.”

Reconciliation starts here and now. Forgiveness starts here and now. They liberate your soul. Bring peace and wholeness to your relationships with other people, with yourself and with God here and now, in this place of worship, in your hospital rooms, in your home, and in your heart. Don’t wait till it’s almost too late. Live your life in a manner that honors yourself and that honors God. Amen.