The gospel for Thursday of the 10th week in Ordinary Time is taken from Matthew, 5th chapter, 20th, 26th verse. Jesus said to his disciples, I tell you, unless your righteousness surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter 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. Whoever says to his brother Raca will be answerable to the Sanhedrin.

And whoever says, you fool, will be liable to the fire of Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there recall 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 on the way to court with him. Otherwise, your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you’ll be thrown into prison.

Amen. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. Righteousness is having right relationships, healthy relationships, loving relationships. That’s what God wants. Because what he wants is for something in each of us to flow to those in need, to be a healing, enlightening experience. So anything that blocks that is a serious sin.

Yeah, it’s wrong to kill somebody, but it’s also wrong to look at somebody as an idiot, a fool, a jerk, and to not want to do anything for them and to tell them that they’re not worthy of being helped. That’s breaking the flow. And nothing is more serious than that. Closing prayer Father, it’s hard for us to love those that we do not agree with. It’s hard for us not to judge those who are doing something we determine is wrong. So bless us with the kind of heart that sees that the one thing, the only thing you’re asking us to do is to be a source of wisdom, light and help.

And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.