Grace and Space

Personal responsibility for reconciliation: Pointing out the spirit of the Mosaic Law, Jesus teaches that the commandment against the sin of murder is a command against anger: the cancerous cause, and not merely the effect.

Anger, as with all emotions, is neither good nor bad. It is helpful to understand how we experience anger and how we respond to it. One who angers us controls us!

Jesus teaches what modern psychology is more and more discovering: that for the avoidance of heart attacks and for overall good psychical health, we have to heal the basic attitude. Theologically, the sinfulness of the deeper attitude has the potential for manifesting itself in many acts unless it is recognized and brought to the Savior. When that happens, the act of sin can become a felix culpa, a happy fault, drawing awareness to the underlying attitude of alienation.

Do to others: Since the 18th century, Jesus’ saying, “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you,” has been known as the Golden Rule. The rule, in essence, encapsulates the Law and the Prophets (v 12b). This is not distinctly Christian as in antiquity there were many variations of this saying, although in the negative form. Rabbi Hillel, a contemporary of Jesus, is reported to have said, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow creatures.” The negative formulation could also be found among the sages of other faiths. On the other hand, the Law and the Prophets—or the essence of the Scriptures—would be summarized in other ways. Jesus himself says that the commandment of love of God and neighbor is the first and the sum of all the commandments (Mk 12:30-31). And the apostle Paul declares, “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the Law” (Rom 13:10).