The Words of Christ
by VP
Posted on Sunday June 23, 2024 at 01:00AM in Sermons
"But I say to you." -MATT. V. 22.
1. The words of Christ, the Son of God.
2. What are they? Words that countermand the law of Moses, as regards murder, adultery, swearing, revenge.
3. Finally, His word of love and forgiveness.
4. Even many Catholics careless in respecting these words of Christ.
"In this chapter of St. Matthew these words, "But I say to you," are repeated by our divine Lord six times. They occur in His first sermon on the mount; and were a bold and manifest declaration that Christ our Lord came to change the traditions and customs of the Jews, and to insist on His own doctrine.The multitude that listened must have been amazed. Teachings and practices sanctioned for centuries were ruthlessly condemned and set aside, and a new code of conduct laid down by this new Teacher. And it came to pass, when Jesus had fully ended these words, the people were in admiration at His doctrine. For He was teaching them as one having power" (Matt. vii. 28, 29).
And if they, who heard Him for the first time, were subdued and awed, how much more reverential and obedient should we be, who know Who this is Who repeated these words so often, "But I say to you." Christ our Lord, the Son of God! Yes, that is what He claimed and proved Himself to be. But that multitude knew it not. To them He was the new Teacher from Nazareth. It was after this He claimed to be Son of God. You remember how, after He had opened the eyes of the man born blind, and who had been cast out of the synagogue for his adherence to Him, Jesus said to him: "Dost thou believe in the Son of God? He answered and said: Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him? And Jesus said to him: Thou hast both seen Him" (yes, with the eyes He had opened),"and it is He that talketh with thee. And he said: I believe, Lord! and falling down adored Him" (John ix. 35, 38).Yes, we also adore Him as God, and accept His words as eternal truth, for God can never change and never err. Then let us look into this chapter of St. Matthew, and find what are these words, which being the words of the Son of God must never be disobeyed, omitted, nor altered by man.
First: "You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill . . . but I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment . . . be reconciled to thy brother " (Matt. v. 21). Alas! how often is this doctrine disobeyed and disregarded by the world.
Secondly: "Of old it was said: Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart" (ibid. 28). Not actions alone, but thoughts and desires denounced as guilty before the eyes of God.
Thirdly: "But I say to you, that whosoever putteth away his wife and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery" (ibid. 32). With these words of the Son of God before them, how dare the iniquitous laws of divorce be passed, to make sin easy and to be thought of no account?
Fourthly: not only perjury forbidden, "But I say to you not to swear at all . . . but let your speech be yea, yea; no, no; and that which is over and above these is evil" (ibid. 34, 37).
Fifthly: the law of retaliation is condemned--" an eye for an eye," and instead, this neighbourly spirit insisted on: "Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not away (ibid. 42).
And the last word: Instead of "love thy neighbour and hate thy enemy," the Son of God inculcates that doctrine of love and perfection: "But I say to you: love your enemies, do good to them that hate you; pray for them that persecute and calumniate you; that you may be the children of your Father Who is in heaven" (ibid. 43-45.)
How sad it is to look around us and behold the world ignoring these emphatic words of Christ; at variance with them; yea, acting in defiance of some of them. Christian states passing laws about divorce, utterly abrogating the law of Christ, as if the divine Lawgiver were a God of yesterday and not of today. What answer at the judgment day will be found for having gainsaid the words of Christ? Have they forgotten that He said, "My words shall not pass away" (Luke xxi. 33; Mark xiii. 31)?
And do Catholics, even those who think that they are fairly good Catholics, take all these words to heart and keep them as religiously as they should? Are they as careful about being angry and unforgiving as He commands? Lustful thoughts, swearing -are they avoided with that holy fear that they should be? Have they learned and do they practice, "Give to him that asketh" and "Love your enemies and pray for them that calumniate you"? And if not, are they Christ's disciples? for He says, "If you continue in My word, you shall be My disciples indeed" (John viii. 31). "And if any one love Me, he will keep My word " (John xiv. 23).
We must beware of being led astray by the maxims of the world. We have in very truth and in all exactitude to accept the words of Christ and keep them. It is hard for flesh and blood; it is supernatural work, beyond our powers; but grace and help from God will crown our endeavours to obey, if we ask for His assistance. Be solicitous to remember His words and to keep them, for if we fail and disobey He has said, "The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him at the last day " (John xii. 48)." Short Sermons on the Epistles & Gospels of the Sundays of the Year By Francis Paulinus Hickey 1922 (5th Sunday after Pentecost)
