How Do You Wish to Be Considered in Heaven?

After reading Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5, Allison Gingras was prompted to ask herself: how do we want to be known in heaven (and on earth)?

Jesus "did not come to abolish the law"; He came to perfect and fulfill it. The scribes and Pharisees' error was not that they strove to keep the letter of the law, but with the spirit with which they kept it.

In Matthew 5:17-37, Jesus poignantly prompts us to ponder our behavior and challenges us to make necessary changes in any areas we lack or struggle to abide by the law. This passage incorporates many habits of thought and action we should examine carefully, making sure to keep the Commandments as intended and not as we perceive.

Let us begin with, "You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment," especially regarding how we interact with others. One hopes that, for the majority of the population, the idea of killing never crosses our minds. Therefore, we may dismiss this Commandment against such behavior as not relating to us. With a sigh of relief, we can almost add an invisible checkmark, thinking at least I have one out of the ten under control.

Jesus explains this law further, reminding us to look deeper at our disposition toward others. Anger shown or held against another, if left unresolved, leaves us liable for judgment. While we may not always be able to control our immediate internal reaction to another person's words or behavior, we absolutely can and should control what we do next for our spiritual good.

Jesus admonishes us not to remain in anger nor to act upon it, to bring our concerns to our brother before coming to make an offering to Him at the altar. At the beginning of each Eucharistic celebration, we participate in the Penitential Act. The purpose of this rite is to ask God to forgive our sins so that we may offer the Sacrifice of the Mass worthily. The Eucharist is not only a sacrament that we receive but also a Sacrifice that we offer. Here we call to mind our sins, and the priest recites, "Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries."

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This section of the Penitential Rite connects beautifully to Jesus' teaching:

"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." (Matthew 5:23)

The next time you are in Mass, try to not only recite the words but also call to mind any unresolved animosities you hold against your brethren, as God for the grace to forgive them, so you may fully participate in the mystical and miraculous Liturgy.

Next, let us look at Jesus' words about the Commandment concerning adultery. Possibly, you can recall from your youth the lyrics in the children's song, "Be careful, little eyes, what you see," which teaches the importance of guarding our hearts by what we allow ourselves to see. What activities do we mindlessly participate in without even considering the spiritual implications? When my children were teenagers and flipping through the channels looking for a show to watch, I would remind them, "Be sure to pick something you could watch with your grandmother ... and Jesus."

This commandment reminder from Jesus extends far beyond looking at another person with lust, but in preventing ourselves from any temptation of the flesh by being preemptive in our media, entertainment, and leisure activity choices.

Click to tweet;

What activities do we mindlessly participate in without even considering the spiritual implications? #CatholicMom

The danger for the Scribes and Pharisees was getting too caught up in the minutiae, but for modern-day Christians, perhaps it is the opposite: not paying enough attention to the details of our lives. We should ask ourselves this simple yet important question, "How do we wish to be considered in heaven? Jesus guides our understanding of the importance of keeping these laws,

"Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:19)

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