A sermon on Matthew 5:20-22

Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist

Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20-22.) 

Righteousness means to be right with God. The Pharisees believed to be right with God meant to follow every detail of the law down to its tiniest of details. 

For example, The Pharisees taught a person could only walk 3,000 feet on the Sabbath. Walk one foot more than 3,000 feet and off to hell you go. Activities like looking in a mirror, or starting a fire or even dressing a deer would provoke the wrath of God. No deer jerky for you. 

Following these complex rules and regulations made the Pharisees look very pious on the outside, but did not further the one thing God wanted the most – a heart of love on the inside. Jesus said in Matthew 15:8, “You hypocrites...These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." The Pharisees believed following a set of rules and regulations would get them to Heaven. Jesus taught God does not want an obsessive compulsive following of a bunch of rules. 

God wants a heart filled with love for Him that flows out to love of neighbor. This is so important that God says in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” This Bible verse gives me hope when I try to make up for the sins I have done. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sin.” (1 Peter 4:8.)

When Jesus says your righteousness must surpass the Pharisees, He is not saying "follow more rules." Jesus is saying be better in your relationship with God. How do you make your relationship with God better? 

I learned from one of the "best" followers of Jesus who lived two houses down from me. Her name was Mildred. Everyone stopped by Mildred's house to sit on her porch and talk. I called her "The Queen of South Riverside Drive." Mildred knew all the latest goings on in Batavia, the hotbed of drama. She was more than just a purveyor of news. 

I was in her kitchen having a cup of hot chocolate with her. A mother and young child walked in to see her. The mom said, "Mildred, hubby drank up all the food money. My little girl is hungry. Can I borrow some money till the first of the month when my welfare check comes in?" 

Mildred herself was poor, living on welfare that sometimes doesn't last to the end of the month. She immediately rose from her chair and opened a cabinet door. She pulled out $20 from a ceramic bowl. The mom profusely thanked her. 

Mildred said to mom, "It's all I got, but we gotta feed the baby." I put another $20 into mom's hand. I was deeply touched by Mildred's generosity. She gave all she had. I wanted to give Mildred some money to tide her over. She did not take it saying, "I got enough food. Save your money for the next time." 

There were many "next times" because so many impoverished families lived in Section Eight housing on our street. Mildred did not go to church. She did not display outward signs of piety except for a Bible laying on her coffee table. She had a deep righteousness that started from her heart and spilled out into everything she did. Her church of worship to God was her heart. It was fitting that Mildred went to her eternal reward – on Mother's Day. 

The great Polish Saint Kunegunda received a message from Jesus in which He said, “If only you knew how much I long for the salvation of souls! I endured cruel sufferings and gave My life so that I might be loved.” 

You love God better through the sacrifices you make and sufferings you endure for another. Mildred would sometimes surprise me by cooking my favorite dish – Beefaroni. She called it "goulash."

I hope it's on the menu at God's Heavenly Banquet. Blessings...Fr. Mike.