Top Floor

Have you ever made an ugly or funny face at someone and they said to you, “be careful or your face will stay like that forever? Or have you ever met a grumpy older person and wondered if they have been that grumpy their whole life? Anger is something that can indeed be practiced and when practiced enough it becomes something that we are just good at. The same is true with unforgiveness, negativity, resentment, and bitterness. We can practice each one of these things, and like a piano player that practices daily, we can become experts at these ugly faces. 

Jesus calls us to a higher standard in today’s gospel. The Hyatt Regency in downtown San Diego is 40 stories high and at the top of the Hyatt there used to be a beautiful bar with stunning views of the city and the bay. There is one elevator that takes you straight up there, in other words there are no buttons to any of the other floors, and your choice is only to go straight to the very top. In essence, Jesus’ sermon today tells us to get on the elevator that goes directly to the top floor. He starts off by saying that we need to be holier than the Pharisees and Sadducees, which if you’ve been paying attention to the shallowness of these religious leaders in the gospels, should not be that difficult to do. The problem is that our earthly standards have somehow convinced us that we are not allowed to be as holy as the clergy or a religious sister or nun or even a super pious church lady. We choose all the lower leveled floors on the elevator and don’t even know about the elevator with the button straight to the top. Jesus knows that we can do better and he gives us an example that can grow us in spiritual maturity by practicing holiness.

He takes the commandment, “Thou shall not kill”, and unpacks it. Basically friends, it is pretty darn easy to NOT murder anyone, am I right? OK, so Jesus points out that we can and do “kill” each other when we harbor anger or hatred toward someone, when we use unkind words or verbally abuse each other, when we do not forgive each other “quickly”, and when we set our standards low. If we practice something we will become good at it and we will even become champions at it. We need to go above and beyond simply “not murdering” someone, and Jesus emphasizes that reconciliation is paramount in us being able to choose the top floor. 

 If we are holding on to any anger, resentment, or bitterness, let’s pray that today is the day we settle those matters quickly so that our faces don’t stay like that, and that we find the elevator with one button straight to the top. The gospel closes with “Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” Raise your hand if being stuck in an elevator gives you anxiety. Then we must settle our matters of anger and unforgiveness, and pay it back or pay if forward with kindness, peace, and mercy so that we don’t carry any extra weight with us to make that elevator to the top get stuck. Jesus believes in us and he calls us to the top floor today. It is well with my soul.  

Reading 1 EZ 18:21-28

Thus says the Lord GOD:
If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, 
if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just,
he shall surely live, he shall not die. 
None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;
he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. 
Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?
says the Lord GOD. 
Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way
that he may live?

And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil,
the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does,
can he do this and still live?
None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered,
because he has broken faith and committed sin;
because of this, he shall die. 
You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!" 
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,
it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed,
does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed, 
he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Responsorial Psalm PS 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7A, 7BC-8

R. (3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R.    If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD.
R.    If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R.    If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Verse Before The Gospel EZ 18:31

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

GospelMT 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples: 
"I tell you, 
unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, 
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."