In the ancient Greek world, the city-states of Athens and Sparta were bitter rivals.  Athens was a democracy and Sparta a dictatorship.  They fought each other in the Peloponnesian Wars.
Athens was slowly transformed from a nomic society to an anomic society; one that had an inner spirit of the law to one without an inner spirit of the law.



Jesus wants to transform us from simply following the law to living the spirit of the law: from not killing to controlling our anger; from not committing adultery to viewing human beings with respect, as children of God.  In the book of Sirach God reminds us the he knows our actions, our motives and attitudes; understands the why of our deeds.

God knows our hearts!

Jesus challenges us to allow His Beatitudes to form our wills, our souls and our hearts.  St. Paul teaches us that we have no idea of what God has planned for those who love Him!

Jesus came “… not to abolish but to fulfill ...” [the law].  Jesus came to show us the human face of divine love!
Parents want the best for their children, ideally, they want their children to grow, mature and reach their full potential: morally, intellectually, socially, spiritually, physically, psychologically, and economically.
 
“In one of the famous ‘peanuts’ cartoons … Charlie Brown and a pretty girl are in line at the school cafeteria.  ‘Would you like to get in front of me?’  Charlie asks.  She declines, and Charlie explains, ‘I’m always sort of nervous around pretty girls.’  ‘But you must never feel that way,’ she said.                           ‘Pretty girls are human too.’  An astonished Charlie Brown blurts out, ‘You are?’                   (Celebrations, 2-15-14)

Our society tries to tell us that there is no sin, and some people are astonished to discover that there is sin, even personal sin.
Jesus taught us not to stray into sin.  “Sin is a reality, not an outdated concept.  Our personal sins are … (real).”  (Celebrations, 2/15/14)

Penn Dot provides our roads with traffic lights, stop signs, yield signs, speed limit signs, etc. to help us drive safely.  deSales, “Be who you are and be that well.”  Jesus wants us to be the best that we can be.

 

Being His disciple takes hard work discipline, effort and perseverance.  Jesus gave us The Beatitudes to amplify the Mosaic law.  When Jesus judges, He will ask us what do you do when you were confronted with human need?

Maybe these stories told by Leo Buscaglia (author and lecturer) can illuminate Jesus’ demands on us: An elderly man, who recently lost his wife, lived next door to a 4-year-old boy.  When the boy saw the man crying, he went into his yard, climbed up onto his lap and sat!  When his mother asked him what did you say to the man, he said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

On a cold December day, a 10-year-old boy was standing in front of a shoe store with bare feet, peering through the window and shivering from cold.                                      

A lady went up to him and said, “Why are you staring so intently?”  “I am asking God for shoes.”  The lady took him by the hand, went into the store and asked the clerk for socks, water and a towel.  Then she knelt down, washed and dried his feet; put a pair of new socks and the shoes the shoes on his feet.  Then, she purchased the shoes and socks. 

As she turned to go, the little boy looked up at her with tears
in his eyes and asked, “Are you God's wife?”

Today a few minutes, in silence, reflect on your life, your goals, and your actions?

May God Be Praised!